Pakistan probes FIA no-show at Islamabad airport during UK prisoner handover
The investigation was initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office to determine why FIA officials were not present during the transfer
Pakistani security officials from the Airport Security Force (ASF) stand guard at the Islamabad International Airport.
AFP/File
Pakistan launched an inquiry on Monday into the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) staff's absence at New Islamabad International Airport during the handover of convicted Pakistani prisoners by United Kingdom police, sources told Nukta.
The investigation, initiated on the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Office, aims to determine why FIA officials were not present when the UK police arrived to transfer the prisoners, sources said.
In normal circumstances, Interpol or other international policing agencies play a key role in such transfers, especially in cases of deportation or extradition. However, UK police reportedly arrived at the airport expecting to hand over the prisoners, only to find no FIA or other Pakistani agency officials ready to take custody.
"The UK police had no choice but to return with the prisoners and inform the Pakistan High Commission in London about the situation," a source said.
Pakistan and the UK signed a prisoner transfer agreement in December 2018, enabling convicted individuals to serve their sentences in their home country. The pact is designed to help prisoners reintegrate into their communities upon release.
Sources noted that Pakistan has similar agreements with other nations, including Saudi Arabia, which recently transferred over 500 Pakistani prisoners to serve their sentences locally.
Attempts to reach the Interior Ministry and the FIA director general for comment went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
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