Malaysia Sun : UK urges Pakistan to hand over extremist Rashid Rauf

UK urges Pakistan to hand over extremist Rashid Rauf

ANI | Malaysia Sun | October 13, 2007

Islamabad, Oct 13 : The United Kingdom has reiterated its request to Pakistan to extradite British national Rashid Rauf following his arrest last year on the suspicion of masterminding the 7/7 bombings in London, sources said.

Foreign Office (FO) sources said that the British High Commission here had recently submitted a formal extradition request to the FO, which had forwarded it to the Interior Ministry and the concerned intelligence agencies for consideration.

Rauf fled to Pakistan after killing his uncle, Muhammad Saeed, on April 24, 2002 in Birmingham. The Pakistan Police arrested him on August 10, 2006 in connection with the Heathrow Airport bombing on July 7.

Sources said that the Interior Ministry had informed the FO that, as Pakistan and the UK have no extradition treaty, the government would have to invoke the Extradition Act of 1972 by publishing a notification in the official gazette for Rauf's extradition to Britain.

According to sources, the ministry further said that the withdrawal of terror cases against the suspected militant from Airport Police Station, Rawalpindi was necessary for Rauf's extradition.

Sources said that London had requested Rauf's custody under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters for Investigation Agreement, but the request was declined because of the absence of any such agreement.

The Daily Times quoted sources as saying that Islamabad, however, allowed British police to interrogate Rauf on the Birmingham murder case and his alleged involvement in terrorism.