GUJRAT: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), have extradited two suspects allegedly involved in murder and attempt on life cases, after the Interior Ministry approached the Gulf state through Interpol on the request of Gujrat police.

Asad Gujjar, a spokesman for the district police, told Dawn on Thursday that a suspect, Asim Afzal of Shadiwal, was wanted by Kunjah police in connection with a double murder committed two years ago. The suspect who had fled the country and was living in Dubai, was among the top-10 fugitives, he said.

Mr Gujjar said the police traced the whereabouts of the suspect using the latest technology and also sought help of the Interpol for his arrest.

He said that after his extradition, the suspect had been brought to Gujrat by an investigation team of the police.

Similarly, he said, another suspect, Muhammad Naeem of Nali village, who was wanted in an attempt to murder case by Bulani police in Sara-i-Alamgir tehsil had also fled to Dubai, allegedly after committing the crime.

A police investigation team traced and arrested the suspect in the UAE, through the Interpol.

He said both the suspects were now in the custody of the Gujrat police.

District Police Officer Syed Ali Mohsin awarded cash prizes and commendation certificates to the police teams working on the cases.

According to police sources, a large number of dangerous criminals, mostly involved in murder and other heinous crimes in the district and other areas had flown to various European countries like Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, besides Iran and Turkey and some Gulf states to avoid legal action. They added this trend among the criminals was resulting in inordinate delays in the trials of such cases.

Though a separate branch has been established in the district police for the extradition of fugitives, such criminals get benefit of the cumbersome procedures involved, they said.

Detailing the procedure, the sources said the police forwarded an extradition case to home department from where it was sent to the federal interior ministry which referred it to the Interpol.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2018