ajpirzada
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2008
- Messages
- 6,011
- Reaction score
- 11
- Country
- Location
ISLAMABAD: A five-member British team left for Britain on Saturday after Pakistani officials refused to sign an agreement on deportation.
The team, which was initially denied visa, faced considerable difficulties in setting up meetings with their counterparts in Islamabad. It was led by the joint head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices counter-terrorism department, Robert Dickson.
The British officials were informed that Pakistan could not sign the agreement at a time when British courts were about to decide on the appeals filed by some Pakistani students against possible deportation. Such an agreement could only be signed if the federal cabinet approved the move, they were told.
Britain had proposed that the MoU titled Deportation with Assurances be signed, apparently to pre-empt legal challenges to deportation proceedings in the case of the 10 Pakistani students, who were arrested in connection with a terrorism probe. No charges could be brought against any of the accused.
Under the proposed accord, Pakistan was to assure Britain that deported peoples human rights would not be violated. Those facing deportation from the UK often base their pleas on the fear of persecution and human rights abuses and in most cases the courts decide in their favour.
Britain pressured Pakistan at the highest level to sign the proposed MoU, but the Pakistan government withstood the pressure and avoided signing the agreement that could have given the impression of favouring the British while the controversy over the arrest of students lingered.
Pakistani officials insisted that the recent talks should not be considered as part of negotiations on the accord and, instead be treated as an explanatory interaction.
DAWN.COM | World | Pakistan not keen to sign deportation pact with UK
The team, which was initially denied visa, faced considerable difficulties in setting up meetings with their counterparts in Islamabad. It was led by the joint head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices counter-terrorism department, Robert Dickson.
The British officials were informed that Pakistan could not sign the agreement at a time when British courts were about to decide on the appeals filed by some Pakistani students against possible deportation. Such an agreement could only be signed if the federal cabinet approved the move, they were told.
Britain had proposed that the MoU titled Deportation with Assurances be signed, apparently to pre-empt legal challenges to deportation proceedings in the case of the 10 Pakistani students, who were arrested in connection with a terrorism probe. No charges could be brought against any of the accused.
Under the proposed accord, Pakistan was to assure Britain that deported peoples human rights would not be violated. Those facing deportation from the UK often base their pleas on the fear of persecution and human rights abuses and in most cases the courts decide in their favour.
Britain pressured Pakistan at the highest level to sign the proposed MoU, but the Pakistan government withstood the pressure and avoided signing the agreement that could have given the impression of favouring the British while the controversy over the arrest of students lingered.
Pakistani officials insisted that the recent talks should not be considered as part of negotiations on the accord and, instead be treated as an explanatory interaction.
DAWN.COM | World | Pakistan not keen to sign deportation pact with UK
