Bring it on this guy! :smash:
ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be a major breakthrough, Washington has finally informed Islamabad it was ready to hand over former Sindh chief minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Abdullah Shah along with other fugitives now reportedly hiding in the USA, it is reliably learnt.
Sources formally confirmed that in a fresh communication with the government of Pakistan, the US government has asked Pakistani authorities to send its case file to its Department of Justice for formal extradition of the fugitives specially former PPP leader Abduallah Shah and Shahzad Munawar.
Officials said earlier, request was made by Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider in a recent visit to the US. However, the US authorities had sought some time to respond to this request. And now, the officials maintained the US government had finally told Pakistan that it was ready to meet its demand of extradition of Abdullah Shah.
However, there is no mention of Salman Farooqi and more high profile wanted persons who are also wanted in several cases and presently hiding in the US. The sources said the Musharraf government was desperately trying to get these wanted men back from the US to establish its so-called process of accountability.
But, on a number of occasions, the US government turned down the military government’s requests for the extradition of former PPP chief minister, simply saying the evidences submitted to the concerned authorities were insufficient to establish the case of his extradition.
The sources said the US authorities were simply at loss to understand that how could a chief minister of a province be wanted by the government of Pakistan just for allotting a few acres of land or plots to some people using his powers as a chief minister.
But, the sources said finally the US government had agreed to process the case and hand over the accused to the government of Pakistan.
Earlier, the US government was informed that Syed Abdullah Shah was declared “absconder” by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court Karachi in three cases of land allotment in violation of rules.
The sources said the US government was informed that in one case, the former Sindh chief minister had allotted one plot No 3-A, SMCHS, Karachi, to Dr Tariq Ghauri, the then special assistant to Sindh chief minister against the rules about high-rise buildings. The case was disposed of on March 3, 2000. Abdullah Shah was declared absconder. While, Dr Tariq Ghauri returned Rs 15,30,454 as illegal money and proceedings against him were dropped.
In an other case, Syed Abdullah Shah along with two other co-accused, Ramesh M Udeshi and Ghulam Mustafa Memon, was also tried in the court for the allotment of 20 acres of land for residential/commercial purpose in Scheme No 33, Karachi against the rules. The case was disposed of on January 22, 2000. Ramesh M Udeshi was awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 0.1 million.
In the second case of land allotment, Syed Abdullah Shah was again declared absconder. Ghulam Mustafa Memon convicted/released after he returned the illegal gain regarding land and court forfeited amount of Rs04.million deposited by him.
In the third case, Shed Abdullah Shah was declared absconder in a case of allotment of 30 acres of land for residential/commercial purpose in KDA scheme No 33 Karachi against the rules. The co-accused in the case was Ramesh M Udeshi.
:hula:PAKISTAN - ALL THE WAY:hula: