THIS is apropos the reports quoting NAB chairman and president of the National Commission for Enforced Disappearances Justice (r) Javed Iqbal that during the tenure of former president Musharraf, over 4,000 Pakistanis were handed over to foreign countries for dollars.

This is shocking and sickening. It gives you an insight into Musharraf’s mindset. Those involved must be held accountable and stripped of any benefits. It portrays both Pakistan and its institutions negatively and impacts upon our national sovereignty and credibility.

Musharraf alone could not have managed to hand over 4,000 Pakistanis; others must have been involved. There existed a federal government headed by the PML-Q, with a prime minister, interior minister, law minister, and others.

The fact that these revelations came from Justice Iqbal makes it obligatory for the state and all its institutions to bring to justice the culprits. The Constitution does not empower any individual or institution to unilaterally hand over citizens of Pakistan to another country without due process of law. Even if a bilateral extradition treaty exists, due process has to be followed.

Ali Malik Tariq
Lahore

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2018