Terrorism charges dropped against British Pakistani Rashid Rauf
'Pakistan Times' Monitoring Report

ISLAMABAD: Anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi has dropped the charges of terrorism against Rashid Rauf a Pakistani-British national suspected of being a key figure in a plot to bow up transatlantic plane.

The alleged plot to detonate liquid explosives on jet planes travelling from London was foiled when 25 people were arrested in Britain in raids on August 10.

Later, Pakistan said it had arrested seven persons including two Pakistani-British nationals and Rauf was the only person who had been identified.

Rauf, 25, was arrested in August this year and was charged of having links with Al-Qaeda.

Hashmat Habib, Rauf’s lawyer told reporters that a judge of anti-terrorism court has dropped the charges of terrorism from Rashid Rauf and now the case will be sent to the normal court.

A court official said “Rauf’s case did not fall in the category of terrorism, and transferred the case to the District and Session Court”.

Rauf had been kept in detention at unknown place and was presented before the court on Wednesday where he was allowed to see his relatives as well.●