The Hindu : `Khalid not shifted to U.S.'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

International

International

`Khalid not shifted to U.S.'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD March 3. Pakistan today insisted that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who was captured from a house in Rawalpindi on Saturday morning, had not been shifted to the United States and was being interrogated by the security agencies.

The Pakistan Interior Minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, said Mohammed would not be handed over to the U.S. unless investigation in the case being conducted by local agencies was completed.

The position taken by the Pakistan Government with regard to the arrest and interrogation of Mohammed could be aimed at the domestic constituency. In the past whenever such arrests were effected, parties such as the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) had criticised the Government for allegedly allowing foreign agencies a free run on Pakistani soil.

Since the U.S. declared war against Afghanistan in October 2001, Pakistan has apprehended over 430 Al-Qaeda suspects and handed them over to the U.S. The case of Mohammed might not be different ultimately.

The Minister argued that a case had been registered against the accused with a local police station. However, it had not been decided so far that in which court the case would be tried. He said a Pakistani, identified as Ahmed Qudoos who was also apprehended during the Saturday raid, would not be handed over to the U.S. "If he is declared guilty, he will be dealt with according to the local law,'' he said.

Mr. Hayat said no Pakistani would be handed over to any country in the future. However, Pakistan and the U.S. have an extradition treaty under which the Governments of both the countries are bound to hand over any of their nationals wanted in any case in either country.

The Minister said that after the conclusion of investigation the main suspect, Mohammed, and his accomplice would be handed over to the Government of their country.

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