Rashid Rauf, a British national suspected to plan attacks on
some transatlantic flights, managed to escape from the police
custody in Islamabad on Saturday, according to local press
reports.
The News, an English daily, quoted Islamabad police
officer Syed Kalim Imam as saying that the accused was brought to
the Islamabad district court from the Adiala Jail in nearby
Rawalpindi at about 13:30 local time (0830 GMT). The accused, he
said, escaped from the court premises, adding that he was informed
by the concerned police about Rauf's escape at 18:00 (1300
GMT).
Two police officers have been arrested on suspicion of helping
the accused flee, the police officer said, adding that a department
inquiry had been formed to investigate the case.
Rauf, who also has a Pakistani passport, was arrested by
Pakistani intelligence agents in August 2006 on a tip from their
British counterparts.
Rauf was arrested and charged in Pakistan with possessing
chemicals that could be used in making explosives and with carrying
forged travel documents.
The prosecution later withdrew the case against him and held him
accountable only for possessing bomb-making materials and living in
Pakistan without valid documents.
After that, a higher court, acting on an appeal by the Pakistani
authorities, suspended the anti-terrorism court's ruling until Jan.
15, according to the press reports.
A judge then extended his detention until Jan. 19.
Rauf has remained in jail awaiting a decision on a British
extradition request. He arrived in Pakistan soon after his uncle
was stabbed to death in 2002, and the British authorities have
asked Pakistan to extradite Rauf in connection with the murder
inquiry.
His lawyer, Hashmat Habib, has sought to block the move, saying
that the two countries did not have an extradition treaty and that
Rauf had already been found innocent of involvement in
terrorism.
Habib said Saturday that his client had been brought to court in
connection with the extradition proceedings, but he did not know
how Rauf had escaped.
(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2007)
