LONDON: The 14-day remand of the 10 Pakistani students arrested on April 8 on suspicion of being involved in hatching terrorist plots in the UK expires on April 22, it was officially acknowledged here on Monday.
The remand could be extended by another 14 days. The officials briefing the media also claimed that the UK authorities were sharing information on the progress of the investigations with Pakistan High Commission officials.
When the High Commission was contacted for confirmation of the claim, sources at the HC said the information so far shared was only partial. ‘They provided us with only partial consular access,’ the sources added.
The HC perhaps now knows the names of all the arrested students and their antecedents and possibly also has an idea about why they were detained.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made a statement on the matter for the first time in the House of Commons. Most of what she stated has already appeared in the media and was a repetition of official statements made on the arrests occasionally over the last fortnight.
As she began she said: I am sure that honourable members will understand why I cannot go into detail on the investigation or the individuals involved.
‘These arrests were pre-planned as the result of an ongoing joint police and security service investigation. The decision to take action was an operational matter for the police and the security service, but the prime minister and I were kept fully informed of developments. The priority at all times has been to act to maintain public safety.’
‘Our counter-terrorism programme with Pakistan is worth approximately £10 million per annum and is our largest such programme. In addition, to help the government of Pakistan reduce poverty, the UK has doubled its aid programme to £480 million during 2008-2011.’
‘In posts that we have classified as high risk, like Pakistan, we have a risk management network that helps ensure the right visa decisions are made, for example by working with the local authorities to ensure that the qualifications of prospective students are independently verified.’
Under tier 4 of the Points Based System, educational institutions that wish to bring in international students for more than six months must now be accredited by an independent body and licensed by the UK Border Agency.
‘There will, for some time, be a number of students who have continuing leave under the old system. Many of these will be studying at colleges now on the PBS register, but some will not. Over half of these students with existing leave will see their leave expire within 12 months; the vast majority within 2 years; and almost all within 3 years.’
‘Any student who does not bring themselves within the new PBS regime or leave the country when their leave expires will be subject to appropriate enforcement action.’
‘Before the Points Based System was in place, there were around 4,000 institutions which brought in international students. Now, under the PBS, there are currently about 1,500 institutions registered to do so.’
‘I have asked UKBA to prioritise enforcement activity on institutions, firstly which applied but have not made it onto the PBS register; and subsequently on the remaining colleges that have brought in international students in the past, but have not applied for a PBS license.’
‘Where there is evidence of criminal activity, we will prosecute. Where colleges have decided that the requirements of our new, tougher, regime are too onerous, we will not allow them to bring in international students.’
‘On the issue of Security Industry Authority licenses, Mr Speaker, applicants have to satisfy a number of criteria before a license can be issued. In particular, no-one is awarded a license without a criminal record check and without having their right to work in the UK confirmed.’
‘I have asked the SIA to conduct an urgent review to look at whether the existing processes need to be strengthened and the extent to which students and particularly foreign students apply for SIA licenses and – importantly – whether this has implications for the security checks conducted by the SIA and the advice provided to employers.’
‘Mr Speaker, the threat level to the United Kingdom from international terrorism is still assessed as SEVERE. A terrorist attack is considered highly likely.’
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