Action to be taken against alleged corrupt elements on evidence, UK tells Pakistan

LONDON - The United Kingdom giving a clear message to Pakistan linked its assistance to curb corruption and money-laundering strictly with evidence of the misdeed.

British Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who was in Pakistan last week for bilateral talks, said that his country wanted to engage with Islamabad in order to eliminate corruption and illegal capital flight, adding that the cooperation will be based on evidence of corruption and not the political rhetoric.

The home secretary of UK, where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's sons and other Pakistanis have, according to probing teams, have stashed money, said that all action will be based on merit and sound proofs.

Nawaz's sons - Hassan and Hussain - and the former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar are currently living in the UK, but are wanted for trial on corruption charges in the accountability court, which have declared them absconders.

The incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is paying more attention on the issues as its ministers have been reiterated time and against that money sent abroad illegally to be brough to Pakistan.

Javid said: "We are not interested in the politics of things but when you pursue justice, all you are interested in is evidence and going after the evidence."

"We welcome the new government in Pakistan. It’s the government we will be closely with, as with the previous governments, in achieving its aims," he said.

The home secretary reiterated that the UK government wanted to help Pakistan plug corruption.

During his visit to Islamabad on Sept 17, Javid said that the UK will work closely with the Pakistani authorities in their fight against money laundering.

He said the two nations would share evidence to enable more prosecutions to be brought.

During this high-profile visit, the government of Pakistan signed a declaration on justice and accountability with the UK.

Addressing a joint press conference, Pakistan’s Law Minister Faroogh Nasim, special assistant to the Prime Minister on accountability, Shahzad Akbar and visiting dignitary detailed that the accord would help resume the process regarding the recovery of wealth stashed abroad and bilateral exchange of prisoners.

‘The reason for signing the accord is the recovery of looted wealth currently stashed outside the country,’ said Shahzad Akbar.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/pakistan-uk-sign-landmark-declaration-on-justice-and-accountability/

He expressed that the agreement regarding the exchange of prisoners would be renewed adding that the impetus behind inking the agreement is to extend cooperation for curbing multiple crimes.

Law Minister, Faroogh Nasim expressed that the details regarding the deportation of former finance minister Ishaq Dar could not be made public as of now.

On the occasion, the British official said that he had arrived in Pakistan for opening a new chapter in Pak-British ties adding that the UK regime wants to work in liaison with Pakistan on the issue of terrorism.

‘We would ease the access of British markets for Pakistani products,’ affirmed Sajid Javid while highlighting that the United Kingdom is the biggest export market for Pakistani products.

‘Around 2 percent of the Britishers trace their roots in Pakistan,’ said the British home minister.

The Britisher also lavished praise on the law enforcers and admitted that the armed forces and police took steps to eradicate terrorism.

He also dished in on the matter of money-laundering and said that it inflicted a massive loss on Pakistan’s economy, resulting in a drop in the collection of tax.

Javid expressed that the United Kingdom would fully support Pakistan in its educational and defence related projects.