Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
WASHINGTON: The International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as Interpol, has assured Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani that it has not issued an arrest warrant for him.
“The General Secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, hereby certifies that as of today (April 18, 2018), Mr Husain Haqqani, born on July 1, 1956, is not subject to an Interpol Blue Notice or diffusion and is not known in Interpol’s data basis,” says a letter issued by Interpol’s office of legal affairs.
According to Mr Haqqani, his lawyer had contacted Interpol after the media ran reports about an arrest warrant for him. In response, Interpol sent him the letter.
Interpol notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share crime-related information.
A ‘blue notice’ is a request to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime. After a blue notice, Interpol can issue a ‘red notice’ to seek the location and arrest of wanted people with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.
A blue notice is the first step indicating Interpol’s interest in a person sought by the national police of a member state. A red notice follows a blue notice.
Earlier this month, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced in Islamabad that it had asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Mr Haqqani’s arrest.
This was, however, not the first such request. The FIA has contacted Interpol in the past as well, asking it to issue a red notice for Mr Haqqani.
However, Interpol sought more information about the case but did not issue a warrant.
Last month, the FIA registered a case against the former envoy accusing him of committing “criminal breach of trust, misuse of authority and embezzlement of funds” at Pakistan’s embassy in the US. The case was registered under Sections 3, 4, 409, 420 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Mr Haqqani, who lives in Washington, claims that the charges against him are of political nature and that’s why Interpol has not responded to Pakistan’s request.
Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2018
Comments (16) Closed
Good job Interpol.
Good decision by interpol
He has harmed Pakistan a lot, and should face the charges against him.
They haven't even responded to the request; let alone take an action.
This is why Pakistanis believe that double standards exists. If a similar issue happened to any western citizen they will be shouting loud and high for warrant issue even if arrest person said that issue is politically motivated. Typical case of Julian Assange.
The American influence showing up in preventing this CIA operative from being delivered to Pakistan police.
This guy is big time traiter. Another one shakeel afridi is being released soon so he could join him in US.
@Haroon why don't you go arrest him then?
What a crooked, crazy and cunning joke by the so-called Interpol?
embezzlement of funds cannot be considered as of political nature.
Pakistan should pull out of UN and all world bodies with immediate effect if they dont act on apprehensions of Pakistan.It should also ask friendly countries -China, Turkey, Russia and Saudi Arabia to put pressure by pulling out of these bodies.
@Majid are you serious.
Interpol are subservient to the super power and shall never take action against their masters agent !
Good luck catching him.
So much for the noise being made in Pakistan, to bring him back from the US.
Not going to happen anytime soon. Rest assured. He's being protected by the US government.
@ab , embezzlement is just invented to build a case. How much money has been stolen ? For what purpose it was kept ? Why this embezzlement is surfacing after 7 years ?.... answers pls... Hope Dawn will help to raise the issue in media.