Pakistan works towards release of Moazzam Baig

Islamabad, Dec 9 (UNI) The Pakistani government has contacted the British High Commission for release of a British national of Pakistani origin from Guantanamo Bay, a media report said.

The Daily Times today reported that Moazzam Baig, son of Azmatullah Baig, chief organiser of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Birmingham, United Kingdom, had been arrested by Pakistani authorities on terrorism charges a few months ago. Baig was later handed over to the United States and is now being detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Baig's father Azmatullah was at one time a major fundraiser for British organisation Muslim Hands and a staunch supporter of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Britain.

The US authorities suspected that Azmatullah and his son were allegedly involved in providing funds to terror networks.

The paper said that the two powerful Islamabad-based bureaucrats had played a key role in Baig's arrest and subsequent deportation to Guantanamo Bay.

The government contacted the British High Commission in Pakistan for Baig's release after the MQM senior leadership took up the issue with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The MQM represents Urdu-speaking people, who migrated to Pakistan after partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 and settled in Karachi.

MQM Chairman Altaf Hussain and MQM Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar were constantly pressurising the government for Baig's release.

However, federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said that he was not aware of the arrest and deportation of Moazzam Baig.

He said there were more than five Pakistani nationals being held at Guantanamo Bay and the government was making efforts for their release.

Most of the Pakistanis, who were incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay were arrested while fighting alongside the Afghan Taliban against the US-led international military coalition in Afghanistan after ouster of the Islamic militia's government in December 2001.

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