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Treaty required for extradition of Mumbai attack suspects: Pakistan

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Pakistan on Friday said a bilateral extradition treaty would be required if it were to transfer Mumbai terror attack suspects to India. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a television interview that no such treaty exists and that it will not transfer the suspects without one. India has claimed that such an agreement is not necessary because international conventions and Pakistan's membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) provide a basis for handing over the suspects. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistani group blamed for the attacks, denied that a senior member had confessed to the Pakistani government about the group's involvement. The attacks in Mumbai, which claimed at least 170 lives, were carried out at ten locations across the city, including the landmark Taj Mahal Palace hotel. In December, Pakistani officials said they would not hand over to India any Pakistani citizens arrested in connection with the attacks, insisting instead on a joint investigation with Indian officials. Early in December, Pakistani police raided a militant camp and arrested Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the head of LeT, along with several other individuals believed to be responsible for the attacks. Days after the attacks, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convened a meeting of all political parties in order to gather national support for a plan to strengthen security in the country.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 02, 2009 (boomark / email).