Pak: Plea against extradition of Baradar dismissed

The possible extradition of 12 Afghan Taliban militants, including Taliban No 2 Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, arrested by Pakistan has been stalled after the Lahore High Court dismissed petitions regarding the extradition.

Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Tuesday rejected the plea of petitioner's lawyer Tariq Asad, stating that the petitioner, Khalid Khawaja, was now dead.  He said a fresh petition needed to be filed for the case to proceed, the Daily Times has reported.

Khawaja was kidnapped and later killed by the Afghan Taliban.  The kidnappers had linked his release with the withdrawal of petitions pending in the Lahore High Court regarding their arrested men.

Khawaja had challenged the possible extradition of Mullah Baradar, Mullah Abdul Salam, Maulvi Kabir, Mullah Muhammad, Ameer Muawiya, Tayyab Agha, Hakeemuddin Mehsud, Mullah Tayyab Popalzai, Abdul Qayum Zakir, Musa and Mohtasim Agha and others.