Islamic Republic News Agency : "Bring him to court," Rauf's family asks gov't of Pakistan

"Bring him to court," Rauf's family asks gov't of Pakistan

Islamabad | October 11, 2006

A relative of a suspected British Al-Qaeda operative central to the plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners called on authorities on Tuesday to bring him to court so his family could be reassured of his well-being.

According to The News, Rashid Rauf was arrested in August, days after British police foiled a plot to carry out suicide bombings on several US-bound planes from London.

Authorities said Rauf was a key person in the plot and had contact with an Al-Qaeda operative in Afghanistan.

Zahoor Akhtar, a brother-in-law of Rauf's mother, told Reuters he had filed a petition in the Lahore High Court asking for Rauf to appear in court.

Akhtar said Rashid's family was fearful that he would be sold to the United States or Britain on imaginary charges.

He also sought a meeting between Rauf and his family.

Lawyer Hashmat Habib told a foreign news agency that the preliminary hearing of the (petition) is likely to be fixed before a high court bench on Friday.