A Pakistani terror suspect extradited from South Africa and held for 18 months in Islamabad without charge has been detained for alleged links to the 2005 London suicide attacks, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
Khalid Mehmood Rashid (25) appeared before a federal review board at the Supreme Court in Islamabad for the first time last week and his detention was extended by three months, his lawyer Hashmat Habib told Agence France-Presse.
London-based human rights group Amnesty International said Rashid was handed over to Pakistan by South Africa in November 2005, and was in the custody of Pakistan’s intelligence service as of April 16.
”There is no documented charge against him but my understanding is that he is wanted in connection with the July 7 2005 attacks in Britain,” Habib said.
A security source confirmed that Khalid’s contacts to the London bombers were being investigated.
Four suicide bombers, three of Pakistani origin, blew themselves up on London’s transport system on July 7 2005, killing themselves and 52 others and wounding more than 700.
At least two of the four bombers — Mohammed Sidique Khan, Shezhad Tanweer, Jermaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussein — were known to have visited Pakistan in the months before the attacks.
Amnesty said Rashid appeared before the review board on April 12 and authorities were ordered to transfer him to a prison in Rawalpindi, and allow him access to his family and medical care, citing unidentified Pakistani sources.
It said he was being held for his alleged links with terrorism and anti-state elements.
”Mr Rashid has already suffered 18 months of secret detention and it is totally unacceptable for the Pakistan authorities to continue to deny him access to his lawyer, family and medical care,” said Erwin Van Der Borght, acting director of Amnesty’s Africa programme.
”This situation must be immediately addressed and Mr Rashid be brought to justice in a fair trial or released without delay.”
Amnesty added in a statement that it was ”extremely concerned” for Rashid’s well-being.
Last year, Amnesty called on South African President Thabo Mbeki to establish an independent inquiry that would probe the circumstances surrounding Rashid’s handover.
It also demanded in 2006 that Rashid face trial in Pakistan or be released from custody immediately. ‒ Sapa-AFP