Pak court adjourns case linked to London plot

Rawalpindi (Pakistan), Dec 22: A Pakistani court adjourned a hearing today into charges against a Pakistani-British man suspected of being a key figure in a plot to blow up airliners over the Atlantic Ocean, his lawyer said.

Pakistani officials in August identified the suspect, Rashid Rauf, as a ''key person'' in a plot broken up by British police that month, to carry out suicide bombings on airliners travelling from London to the United States.

Last week, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court dropped terrorism charges against Rauf because of a lack of evidence, his lawyer said, and referred lesser charges to a civil court.

Rauf appeared in a court in Rawalpindi today, but the judge adjourned the hearing until January 5, at the request of the defence.

Rauf, wraped in a black shawl and wearing a white Muslim prayer cap, rejected the accusations against him.

''Wrong, injustice,'' he said to reporters when asked about the charges.

Asked if he thought he would get justice, the bearded young man said: ''Let's see''.

Rauf faced charges of forgery, impersonation and possessing explosives, said his lawyer, Hashmat Habib.

The prosecution accused Rauf of possessing hydrogen peroxide with the intention of making bombs but Habib said he would tell the court it was an antiseptic chemical that could be used for healing wounds.

British police said on August 10 they had foiled a plot to use liquid explosives to bring down several airliners on their way to the United States. British police have charged 17 people in connection with the plot.

Pakistan said in August it had arrested seven people in connection with the plot, including two British Muslims of Pakistani descent, one identified as Rauf.

Rauf, who a Pakistani official said had been in contact with an al Qaeda operative in Afghanistan, is the only suspect in Pakistan who has been identified.

According to reports, Rauf left Britain and travelled to Pakistan in 2002 after the murder in Britain of an uncle. After the Heathrow plot was exposed, Britain said it was seeking Rauf's extradition.

Pakistan said it was considering the request.

A British official said the extradition request had been made in connection with an investigation into the murder.

Reuters