Mohsin’s extradition required for trial to proceed: lawyer

ISLAMABAD: Though Scotland Yard is investigating a prime suspect in the Dr Imran Farooq murder case in Pakistan yet the trial cannot proceed unless the suspect in Pakistan’s custody is extradited to the UK, a senior London-based legal expert Barrister Amjad Malik told The News.
Scotland Yard has recorded the statement of Mohsin Ali, one of the prime accused in the Dr Imran Farooq murder case, and reportedly the accused has confessed direct involvement in the killing of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader.
However, what impact this confession will have on the trial will be based on whether Pakistan hands over Mohsin Ali to the UK or not.
Barrister Amjad Malik says that the UK can investigate a case anywhere in the world if a crime has occurred on its territory and the suspects have fled to any other state or if the UK’s interests arise in any criminal or terrorism case or a crime was committed on the UK’s territories in other states. He mentioned that the UK has no extradition treaty with Pakistan but there are examples where suspects were handed over to it by Pakistan on the request of the British government. For instance, some Pakistanis had killed a UK citizen in the UK and had fled to Pakistan but were later handed over to the UK authorities by Pakistan under special circumstances.
“So far all the statements, whether written, verbal or on video may convince the UK authorities to request Pakistan to extradite the suspect to UK and maybe a one-off agreement is signed and the accused is handed over to UK. Because Mohsin Ali is not a witness but an accused, therefore, he cannot testify before the jury in UK via video conferencing so he has to be present in the UK court.” He mentioned that Mohsin Ali will be then cross-examined by the defence counsel and only time will tell what happens next.
Malik said that though Pakistan’s interior ministry had given permission to the Scotland Yard to interrogate the prime suspect in Dr Imran Farooq murder case in Pakistan yet if the UK police get evidence, they will have to request the Interpol for extradition of the accused held by Pakistan.