High court asks why Hammad Siddiqui not extradited to Pakistan yet

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday directed the interior and foreign affairs ministries to explain why Hammad Siddiqui, a former incharge of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Karachi Tanzeemi Committee and a proclaimed offender in the Baldia Town factory fire case, has still not been extradited despite court orders.

The direction came on a petition with regard to the extradition of Pakistani nationals who were involved in criminal cases from the UAE and other countries. A constitutional bench of the SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha said that despite the passage of 18 months, Siddiqui, a proclaimed offender in a case in which more than 260 persons lost their lives, has still not been extradited.

The court also directed the interior ministry to confirm the cancellation of Siddiqui’s CNIC and passport, and locate his whereabouts to show what steps have been taken to ensure his extradition.

Regarding the extradition of Syed Taqi Haider Shah, another absconder who was involved in a murder case, the court said the order of his extradition was issued on June 2, 2023, but hardly any substantial progress has been made in his extradition from Dubai, which is quite extraordinary.

Sadia Gohar, the deputy chief of protocol for the foreign affairs ministry, said they need to send certain documents to the UAE for the purpose of extradition of Shah, but these documents and other information have not been received from the interior ministry despite repeated requests. The court directed the interior and foreign affairs ministries to send relevant officers acquainted with the facts of the case, and explain the delay in the non-compliance with the court order.

The SHC had earlier ordered the interior ministry to cancel the passports and CNICs of Siddiqui, Shah and another proclaimed offender. Regarding the extradition of dual national Khurrum Nisar, who fled the country after killing a policeman in the Defence area in November 2022, the court was informed that he was being tried in Sweden for the offence committed in Pakistan, and that Pakistan is providing all legal assistance.

The court directed the interior and foreign affairs ministries to file a report in this regard on the next date of hearing.