The recent Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan and the United Kingdom on extradition does not cover those Pakistanis living legally in Britain. Speaking at a hurriedly called news conference at the Pakistan High Commission on Wednesday, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the understanding reached with his British counterpart Theresa May on her recent visit to Pakistan covers only those Pakistanis who have landed in Britain illegally.

He said through this understanding Pakistan will accept only 120 of its nationals deported by the UK authorities and only after they have been cleared by the Pakistan High Commission. Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan was also present on the occasion.

Malik assured the Pakistani community in the UK that they need not to worry if they have been living legally in Britain. He was questioned on reports that those Pakistanis reporting at the desired reporting centres established by the UK Border Agency are being deported to Pakistan without due process. The minister further said the government has taken the illegal migration of Pakistanis very seriously and has established a task force under his personal supervision to tackle this issue and take action against those involved in human trafficking.

He denied that this MoU with British authorities also include exchange of criminals. The minister further mentioned that Pakistani authorities recently seized some 90,000 national identity cards, which were purportedly to be used by human smugglers.