Court deadline for Pakistan suspects

07/01/2003| IslamWeb

A judge in Pakistan has given the authorities a week to explain why they are still holding a doctor and four of his relatives for alleged al-Qaeda links. Lahore High Court judge Javed Buttar set a deadline of 15 January for prosecutors to provide proof justifying the detentions. Dr Ahmad Javed Khawaja, his brother, two sons and a nephew were picked up on 19 December.

Bail was granted on 1 January, but the men have not been released.

Four other family members were detained, but released soon after.

The raid in Lahore angered many Pakistanis because it was reportedly carried out with help from the American FBI.
Pakistan has been a key supporter in the US-led "war on terror" since attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001.

'Clinic for militants'

Doctor Khawaja and his relatives are being held under security laws which allow detention for up to three months without charge.

They are accused of "anti-state activities on behalf of a foreign organisation".

Police say they ran a vast "relief network" providing treatment and financial support to al-Qaeda and Taleban fugitives and other militants.

Lawyers for the doctor's family have argued that the detentions are unlawful.

Forensic tests

Family members and lawyers have been granted access to the suspects.
They said they were tense, but in good health.

The doctor and his brother also face separate charges in an anti-terrorism court.

A hearing in that case has been put back until Friday, to allow more time for forensic tests on weapons allegedly belonging to the two men.

The case follows that of another Pakistani doctor, Aamir Aziz, who was detained in Lahore for alleged contacts with the Taleban, but later released without charge.

He said the CIA had participated in questioning him.

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The doctor and his brother face terrorism charges