Nawaz Sharif leaves after appearing in a court in Lahore. File/ AP

Pakistan’s information minister said on Friday that Islamabad has started the legal process to reach an extradition treaty with Britain that would pave the way for the UK to hand over former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The development comes after a top Pakistani court earlier this month declared Sharif, who lives in self-imposed exile in London, a fugitive from justice for failing to return home to face additional corruption charges.

Information Minister Shibli Faraz told reporters that it's the responsibility of British authorities not to allow "convicted criminals like Sharif” to remain there. Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison in a separate case, for corruption and money laundering in 2018.

"We are trying, we have tried and we will try" to bring back Sharif, Shibli said in the interview.

Nawaz Sharif arrives at a court in Lahore. File/AP

Pakistan currently has no extradition treaty with Britain. There was no immediate comment from the UK on the development. The process will likely take years and could face stiff resistance in parliament.

Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party is currently holding nationwide rallies demanding Sharif's successor, Prime Minister Imran Khan, step down by the end of the month over alleged bad governance and failing to improve the country's economy.

Khan refuses to resign, and the opposition has vowed to walk out of parliament and provincial assemblies in 2021 to force early mid-term elections. Khan says the elections would be held — but only to fill seats vacated by opposition members.

READ MORE

Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi discusses visa issue with UAE authorities

Mohammed gets Imran Khan's message, praises role played by Pak community

UAE always supported Pakistan in its hour of need, says foreign minister

The 70-year-old Sharif, who ruled the country three times as prime minister, fell from grace after the country’s Supreme Court ousted him from office over corruption allegations in 2017.

Pakistani authorities in November 2019 temporarily released him on bail amid deteriorating health so that he could travel and seek medical treatment abroad. At the time, another court permitted Sharif to leave the country for four weeks, with the option to extend the time abroad if he was not able to travel afterward.

Sharif’s bail later expired and authorities subsequently issued arrest warrants for him.

In 2018, Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison for corruption and money laundering. That case was separate from the one pending against Sharif. He has also appealed against his conviction and the Islamabad High Court is now to decide how to handle the appeal in Sharif’s absence.

Associated Press