Daily India : UK seeks explanation, Pak sets up special team to probe Rauf's escape

UK seeks explanation, Pak sets up special team to probe Rauf's escape

From our ANI Correspondent | December 17, 2007

Islamabad, Dec 17: The Pakistan Government has set up a special team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials to probe into the escape of terror suspect Rashid Rauf, who allegedly planned to blow up a US-bound trans-Atlantic airliners.

Meanwhile, the British High Commission spokeswoman Laura Davies has on behalf of the UK Government has sought an immediate explanation in this regard.

On Saturday, Rauf, a dual citizen of Britain and Pakistan, escaped from the custody of Pakistan Police when he was brought before a judge at a court in Islamabad for an extradition hearing.

The team would submit its report to Interior Ministry Additional Secretary Imtiaz Qazi within the next four days.

Security agencies on Sunday took Zahoor Ahmed, Rauf's maternal uncle, into custody, said Nasrullah Jaral, nazim of Union Council.

A special police team has been formed to arrest the alleged mastermind of the August 2006 transatlantic aircraft-bombing plot, a Daily Times report said.

According to sources, the team headed by SSP Syed Kaleem Imam is searching for Rauf. Constables Nawabzada and Muhammad Tufail, who were escorting Rauf were arrested and sent to an undisclosed location.

Prison authorities did not give detailed information to the police about who Rauf was and only handful police officers were deployed for his security.

Rauf was detained under 3 MPO and the police treated him as a normal accused.

According to the British media reports, the Pakistani and United Kingdom authorities were trying to swap Rauf for two Baloch Liberation Army members recently detained in London.

Copyright Asian News International