Pakistan to revoke capital punshiment for accused, says foreign minister

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says Pakistan is going to revoke capital punishment for the accused, who will be extradited from other countries.

"We are amending the Pakistan Penal Code [PPC] to revoke the capital punishment for the accused, who will be brought back to Pakistan under extradition treaties with other countries,” Qureshi told reporters.

The development comes a day after British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt declared in London that the UK would not sign "politically-motivated” extradition treaties with any country.

Qureshi had assured Hunt that his country would not "misuse” any such agreement, if signed.

Islamabad is seeking extradition of several Pakistani nationals, including the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and former finance minister Ishaq Dar on different charges, including murder and money laundering.

The foreign minister said according to his observations in Bishkek, India had not yet come out of its election mood.

Qureshi said he visited UK upon the invitation of the British foreign secretary.

"We had some very good meetings during the visit. We talked about the Financial Action Task Force and I assured him that Pakistan is doing everything it can to be removed from its grey list. I apprised Jeremy Hunt with the measures taken by the Pakistani government in this regard,” said Qureshi. "We are considering an amendment in the PPC according to which capital punishment will not be applicable on the suspects given under extradition.”

The foreign minister also met the Chinese leadership and held talks with them on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"CPEC is a massive project. It was limited, but now it is being expanded. The nation is in agreement. Narratives come and go, but those who made comments against the CPEC have faced defeat,” the foreign minister said.