Pakistan Sets Conditions for Britain to Deport Convicted Offender

Pakistan has told Britain it will accept the deportation of a convicted offender only if Britain returns political dissidents living in the UK and addresses issues Islamabad considers important. A senior Pakistani government official told The Telegraph that Britain must stop "arm-twisting" and instead "respect the issues that matter" to Pakistan.

The official said the demands concern a person who has spent more than 60 years in Britain and is no longer regarded as a Pakistani national.

The Immigration Act 1971 prevents deportation of certain Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973 and have lived in Britain for at least five years. The man has lived in Britain for more than six decades, a fact Pakistani officials have cited in refusing his return.

Pakistan has also refused to accept two other convicted offenders from the same case, arguing all three renounced their Pakistani citizenship.

Pakistan requested the extradition of two individuals over allegations of spreading "fake news" and anti-state propaganda. Islamabad has also long sought the return of another opposition figure who has lived in London for three decades. The official accused Britain of applying double standards by ignoring evidence of incitement to hatred and violence while citing human rights protections.

Negotiations have reportedly continued for almost a year. The official said Pakistan would consider "out of the box" solutions but rejected what it called threats of visa restrictions and cuts to overseas aid. Britain's Home Secretary is examining whether to repeal provisions of the 1971 Act or pursue emergency legislation.