LONDON: The Pakistan High Commission has been unable to get the non-bailable arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif executed at the Avenfield House nearly a month after the warrants were received here – and the British government has informed Pakistani officials they will not get involved in the matter.
Sources within the Pakistan High Commission have informed The News that five attempts were made so far to get the arrest warrants signed and delivered at the Avenfield flats, but there has been no success as neither Nawaz Sharif nor any member of the Sharif family has signed the official papers.
A source of the High Commissioner stated that its staff had visited the reception area of the hotel but could not see any members of the family.
The most recent visit was on a Thursday afternoon. Two officials stayed on Dunraven Street for about ten minutes and left without even reaching the reception desk.
The former prime minister was attending the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting within about five minutes of Hasan Nawaz’s office.
Pakistani diplomats also asked the British government to help execute the arrest warrant through the Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (FCO), but the British government explicitly refused and informed Pakistani officials that the British government would not interfere in the country’s internal political affairs.
The source said that the UK has notified Pakistani officials that it is not its job to execute the arrest warrant and it has no mission to execute the arrest warrant.
The options of the Office of the High Commissioner of Pakistan are limited. Apart from using the Royal Mail Service and Courier Service for “signed and confirmed” services, it can do nothing or let its own employees sign documents.
In this case, the recipient of the post is Nawaz Sharif, and it all depends on whether he accepts or signs the letter voluntarily. His employees and family members can also sign and confirm the letter on his behalf, but this can only be done as a volunteer, and they cannot be forced to sign and confirm.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed last week that the former prime minister has “refused” to receive non-bailable arrest warrants at his residence in the United Kingdom.
