Islamabad, Aug 25: In a boost to Pakistan seeking extradition of former premier Benazir Bhutto in corruption related cases, the United States has expressed its willingness to hand over former Sindh chief minister and Pakistan People's Party leader Abdullah Shah.
The Bush administration has asked Pakistani authorities to send the case files of Shah and some other persons wanted for alleged corruption cases to the department of justice for their formal extradition to Pakistan, ‘The News’ daily said. The request for extradition was made by interior minister Moinuddin Haider during his recent visit to the US.
The National Accountability Bureau yesterday said that Pakistan was seeking the extradition of Bhutto, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London, to face a range of corruption charges in a Pakistani court.
"The extradition of Bhutto is in process," said Lt Gen Munir Hafeez, chairman of NAB adding that the government has taken up the issue with UK.
Hafeez said, "Benazir's extradition is not a special case and the application is routine.”
The US willingness to hand over Shah is seen as a breakthrough as Washington had previously turned down similar requests by the regime to extradite Shah, saying that the evidences submitted to the concerned authorities were insufficient to establish the case for extradition.
The US communication, however, was silent on few more high profile persons wanted for alleged cases of corruption.
Shah was declared an "absconder" by NAB court in Karachi in three cases of land allotment in violation of rules.
Early this year, the US extradited former Pakistan navy chief, Masoorul Haq, accused of receiving huge kick backs in defence purchases.

Bureau Report