Eleven of the released were handed over to immigration officials and face deportation on national security grounds

Govt to contest UK decision to deport students

LONDON: The Pakistan High Commission here has taken a tough stand vis-à-vis the UK government’s decision to deport 11 Pakistanis after having failed to come up with any evidence of their involvement in a so-called terror plot.

All 12 men arrested over a suspected bomb plot in the UK have now been released without charge by police. Eleven — all Pakistani nationals — have been transferred to UK Border Agency custody and face deportation.

‘We have decided to provide the students full legal assistance to fight the deportation orders,’ Deputy High Commissioner Asif Durrani told Dawn.

He said the PHC had asked the British government that in view of the trauma suffered by the students it expected an official apology from the government to the students and also ‘we have asked the authorities to allow the students to complete their studies before they went back to Pakistan’.

‘The British government had asked us for guarantees that they would not be tortured if deported to Pakistan but we told them that no such guarantees could be given because if the students were deported on the national security grounds they would have to be investigated in Pakistan as well,’ Mr Durrani added.

Solicitors of some of the students have also claimed that they would challenge the deportation orders as ‘our clients have been found innocent of any wrongdoing and they were on valid student visas in this country pursuing their studies while doing part-time jobs’.

Lawyer Mohammad Ayub, who is representing three of the men, said in a statement: ‘After 13 days in custody, during which no evidence of any wrongdoing was disclosed, they have now been released without charge.’

‘Our clients have no criminal history, they were here lawfully on student visas and all were pursuing their studies and working part-time. Our clients are neither extremists nor terrorists.’

Meanwhile, Lord Nazir Ahmed in a letter to Home Secretary Jaqui Smith has demanded full apology to the released students from the UK authorities and asked her to allow the students to pursue their studies.

He warned the home secretary that if they were deported then ‘there is no guarantee that these men will not suffer in terms of human rights abuses’.

The police operation was condemned by a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain. Inayat Bunglawala told Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘When these arrests took place in very dramatic circumstances with students being pulled from universities and thrown to the floor, we were told by the prime minister, no less, that this was part of a very big terrorist plot. Clearly there just has not been the evidence produced to substantiate such a plot.’

‘We would hope that senior ministers and the prime minister will understand that it is completely unfair to make prejudicial and premature remarks in cases like this.’

‘It is perfectly understandable that not every arrest the police make will result in charges being brought … that is the nature of this sort of police work. What is unacceptable is for the government to make prejudicial remarks right at the outset.’

‘Now that we learn that actual evidence cannot be gathered to substantiate any terror plot, instead of releasing them with good grace and making clear a mistake has been made, the government is seeking to deport them, citing a very vague national security threat. That is a very dishonourable way of proceeding.’

Police chief Peter Fahyaid said at a press conference on Wednesday: ‘These people are innocent and they walk away … there are constant threats to this country but we totally respect the situation, we respect that they are innocent until proved guilt.’

‘I do not feel embarrassed or humiliated by what we have done because we have carried out our duty. I don’t think a mistake has been made at all,’ he insisted.

Soon after the arrests on April 8, Prime Minister Gordon Brown had claimed the operation had uncovered a ‘very big plot’ against the UK.

UK frees nine Pakistanis

LONDON: British police on Tuesday released nine of the 11 mostly Pakistani men arrested earlier this month in a major anti-terror operation into the custody of immigration authorities, a spokeswoman said.

The men, aged between 22 and 38, are now being held by the UK Border Agency, which controls immigration into Britain, and face deportation.

‘We are seeking to remove these individuals on grounds of national security,’ said a spokeswoman for the agency.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said at the time the operation involved a ‘major terrorist plot,’ which briefing documents said was linked to al Qaeda.

However, a spokeswoman for Manchester Police said Tuesday: ‘The north-west counter-terrorism unit has released nine of those arrested as part of a national operation.’

The Border Agency spokeswoman added: ‘The government's highest priority is to protect public safety. Where a foreign national poses a threat to this country we will seek to exclude or to deport, where this is appropriate.’

Two men remained in police custody and the police spokeswoman said searches were still being carried out at an address in Manchester.

Twelve men were originally arrested in the raids on April 8, among them 11 Pakistani nationals and a Briton. One man was released into the custody of the UK Border Agency three days later.

The government has come under pressure to strengthen its visa rules after it emerged that 10 of the Pakistani men were in Britain on student visas.

Relatives of the suspects in Pakistan had pleaded their innocence and demanded access to them, saying neither the British nor the Pakistan government had provided them with information on their detention.

The raids had to be brought forward after Britain's top counter-terrorism policeman was photographed holding clearly legible briefing notes on the operation.

He resigned over the gaffe, although Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told lawmakers this week the investigation had not been compromised.

‘Protecting the public is the main focus of the police. These arrests were carried out after a number of UK agencies gathered information that indicated a potential risk to public safety,’ the police spokeswoman said Tuesday.

‘Officers are continuing to review a large amount of information gathered as part of this investigation. Investigations of this nature are extremely complex.’

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith leaves 10 Downing Street in London after a Cabinet meeting

Remand of detained Pakistani students expires tomorrow

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.’

Police have arrested 12 Pakistani students in anti-terror raids across the North West in Manchester, England

Student arrested in UK’s anti-terrorism raids seeks help

LONDON: One of the Pakistani students arrested in last week’s anti-terrorism raids, Janas Khan has sought Pakistan High Commission’s councilor services.

Meanwhile, the PHC has also obtained the names of four solicitors who are representing seven of the arrested students who have refused the offer of councilor services.

The PHC is now trying to contact these students through their solicitors.

The Pakistan High Commission sources said that the remaining two Pakistani students have refused councilor services and have also requested authorities not to involve their families in the matter.

In all 12 persons were arrested on April 8 on suspicion of being involved in hatching plots to stage terrorist acts in the UK.

One, whose identity is yet to be established but believed to be a Bangaldeshi was released on the very second day and of the remaining 11 still in custody, one is said to be Afghan national.

The UK authorities have so far not shared with Pakistan authorities even preliminary information about the students like their names, home addresses, the names of the institutions where the students were studying, when they arrived in the UK and their visa expiration dates.

Ignoring Pakistan’s request to either put those arrested on trial, or to allow them to remain in the country to continue their studies, the UK authorities are said to have decided to let the police continue their investigation.

There has also been the talk of deporting some of the arrested students against who actionable evidence is not likely to be found.

Under the law, the police can keep the suspects in custody for 28 days. The police has 18 days more to marshal the required evidence to charge them.

Sighatullah Kadri, QC, a British lawyer of Pakistani origin answered in the affirmative when asked if the UK authorities could deport the students even if the charges under which they were arrested were not found valid.

He said perhaps the police had arrested these students only on the basis of taped ‘incriminating’ conversation, but since taped conversation is not admissible in the court of law and also because the MI5 itself would not use this evidence in the court, in fear of exposing its methods of investigations, therefore, the police is finding itself in a fix.

‘They do not want to let the suspects go scot free because of what evidence they have but they cannot also keep them under detention beyond 28 days without coming up with actionable evidence.’

He, however, agreed with the Pakistani High Commission who had said that the UK government should share with Pakistan the evidence against these people and if it was not actionable evidence then they should allow them to continue their education in the UK where they entered on valid student visas.

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London

Videogame delayed over ‘offence’ to Muslims


LONDON, Oct 20: Developers delayed release of one of the most eagerly anticipated games in the history of the Sony PlayStation because of concerns that some of the background music might offend Muslims, the developers said on Monday.

LittleBigPlanet, in which gamers can customise the rag-doll protagonist Sackboy and allow it to roam through an interactive world filled with different challenges, had been hailed by video games website IGN as “nothing short of astounding” and given a review rating of 9.5 out of 10.

But its release date has been put back after one of its background music tracks, a song by Mali-born artist Toumani Diabate, was found to have included expressions from the Holy Quran, which could be interpreted as an offence to Muslims.

“We’re sure that most of you have heard by now that one of the background music tracks that was licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Holy Quran,” a statement on the game’s website read.

“We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence this may have caused.

London