Pak London HC diplomatic staff mum on 'disappearance' of NRO evidence case files

Islamabad, Dec.5 (ANI): Officials and staff of the Pakistan High Commission in London are completely mum on the sensitive evidence against many influential personalities, who were benefited from the National Reconciliation Ordinace (NRO).

The files, which were claimed back by the Pakistan government from Geneva earlier this week, was supposed to arrive at the London High Commision, but none of the entire senior diplomatic staff of the Pakistan High Commission are ready to speak about it.

When asked about where the files were, Consul General Nafees Zakaria said questions should be asked from the High Commisioner, Wajid Shamsul Hasan.

Zakaria said he has not seen any such files inside the High Commission building.

"I have not seen any such thing in the High Commission and you can better judge about these things," he said reluctantly.

"I don't know about the whereabouts of the record but I am sure it is safe wherever it is," said Taj Mohammad, third secretary and staff officer to the high commissioner.

It may be mentioned that the Pakistan government had claimed back evidence of the cases filed in the Swiss court against many influential personalities, who were benefited from the National Reconciliation Ordinace (NRO).

The files, which were stacked inside a lawyer's office in Geneva, were removed and were supposed to be taken back to Islamabad, The News reports.

It may be noted that former President General Pervez Musharraf had withdrawn the cases being heard in a Geneva court after signing the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). However, the lawyers appointed by the then Musharraf government kept the records in their possession.

After the NRO was declared defunct, the Pakistan government's lawyer was asked to hand over the proof. However, he refused to do so, saying that an important personality has been charged in these cases and according to Swiss law he could keep the evidence with him for 10 years.

Subsequently, the government replaced its lawyer and appointed John J Brunt as its new advocate, who managed to bring back the proof from the former lawyer. (ANI)