Pakistan and the United Kingdom  have held a meeting regarding the extradition treaty between two countries, reported Dawn. However, the UK still appears apprehensive of signing the treaty, fearing Pakistan might use the treaty for politically motivated cases.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid and British High Commissioner Christian Turner held a meeting on Tuesday. The envoy said Britain is still reluctant to sign such a treaty with nations subjected to frequent military rule.    

Earlier in June 2019, the British foreign secretary said, “Let me say it straightforward. The UK will never sign any treaty allowing for politically motivated extradition. For a long time, Pakistan has been trying to sign an extradition treaty with the UK. Britain desisted from signing the treaty, fearing Pakistan could use it for politically motivated cases.

However, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had assured him that the country would not use it for political cases.

During his Tuesday meeting with the British envoy, Rashid said criminals should not have refuge anywhere in the world. Given the recent track record of the Pakistan government in targeting its political rivals using several state agencies, the UK would find it even harder to agree on an extradition treaty with Pakistan.