Pakistan confirms British request to extradite suspect in alleged jetliner terror plot
(28 Aug 2006) 1. Tasnim Aslam, Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman walking into news conference 2. Wide of news conference 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tasnim Aslam, Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman: "First, consular access has not been requested. I have already confirmed that we have received a request for extradition. Earlier, we had received a request for mutual legal assistance." 4. Cutaway of media 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tasnim Aslam, Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman: "Yes, they (the British government) have sought his (Rashid Rauf's) extradition and the matter is under consideration." 6. Wide of news conference 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tasnim Aslam, Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman: "I don't think anything I said would indicate that we were unwilling. I don't think that was my purpose. I didn't want to give that impression but naturally, there are investigations in Pakistan and I have just given you the three areas, specific areas in which investigations are continuing. Your second question about the BLA (Baluchistan Liberation Army), the British government has completed the procedure for declaring the BLA a terrorist organisation and yes, that is complete now." 8. Exterior of Pakistani Foreign Office STORYLINE: Britain requested the extradition of Rashid Rauf, a Briton arrested in Pakistan earlier this month in connection with the alleged plot to blow up US-bound jetliners, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Tasnim Aslam, the Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman said Rauf, earlier identified by Pakistan as a "key person" in the plot, was being investigated for alleged links with al-Qaida. Asked if the British government had sought Rauf's extradition, she told a news conference: "Yes, they (the British government) have sought his extradition and the matter is under consideration". The British High Commission in Islamabad confirmed it had submitted an extradition request for Rauf, but in connection with a 2002 murder inquiry in Britain. Rauf moved to Pakistan shortly after his maternal uncle was stabbed to death in April, 2002. Pakistani officials say Rauf - a British Muslim of Pakistani origin - helped coordinate the alleged plot to bomb trans-Atlantic jetliners that was thwarted in Britain this month. Aslam said that Rauf had been arrested in Rawalpindi, a city near Islamabad - contrary to earlier reports from intelligence officials that he was picked up in Bhawalpur, a stronghold of the outlawed militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed in eastern Pakistan. According to a relative of Rauf's, he had settled in Bhawalpur after emigrating from Britain and was tied by marriage to Masood Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, fuelling suspicions that Pakistani militants could be linked to the alleged plot. Pakistan has yet to identify at least six other suspects in its custody. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
