LAHORE, Dec 23: The Lahore police claimed before an anti- terrorism court on Monday that certain corroboratory evidence showing Dr Javed Khwaja’s connections with Al Qaeda had been collected and investigations to unearth further clues in this regard were in progress.
Dr Khwaja and his brother, Naveed Ahmad, who had been arrested from Manawan area on Thursday last during a joint operation by the FBI and local police, were produced, handcuffed and with masks, before the anti-terrorism court at the lapse of their two- day physical remand which was extended until Dec 26. Upon the objection raised by the defence counsel, the court ordered for the removal of the masks and handcuffs of the two accused.
The court also issued notice to the state for next hearing on the bail application moved by the two accused.
The police alleged in the initial charge-sheet that Dr Khwaja had established links with Al Qaeda and had Arab guests in his house.
As alleged by the police, there were two women living in his house who were related to Abdul Aziz and Abu Yasir — allegedly working for Al Qaeda.
It was alleged that the recovery of weapons from Dr Khwaja’s house had further substantiated the charge that he had been supporting the Al Qaeda activities in Pakistan. In his defence, Dr Khwaja refuted the allegations levied against him saying that he had no connections with Al Qaeda whatsoever nor had he ever been involved in any terrorist activity.
He claimed to be a patriot and had never thought of carrying out any activity against the sovereignty of the country. The accused said he had great affection for the Arabs and respected their women.
Dr Khwaja further claimed that the weapon recovered from his house was licensed and had been purchased for security reasons.
He alleged that the weapon’s recovery had been blown out of every proportion by the police.
The defence counsel, Pervez Inayat Malik, submitted before the court that out of the nine people arrested from the doctor’s residence, four had been let-off and two had been produced before the court and the whereabouts of the remaining three — Usman Qarar, Dr Khizar, Usman Khwaja — were not known.
The court observed that it could not issue directions for the recovery of the three persons since the matter was sub judice before the Lahore High Court which had the jurisdiction to issue orders in this regard. The counsel argued that the two accused were not being allowed to meet their family members upon which the court allowed this application.
While arguing the bail application, the defence submitted that no incriminating evidence had come on record as yet and the accused were willing to cooperate with the police in the investigations.
They had no intentions to abscond nor would they tamper with the prosecution evidence, argued the defence. The state would submit reply to this application on the next hearing.
Moreover, the LHC would be updated by the deputy attorney general on Tuesday (today) on a petition filed by Dr Khwaja’s wife pleading for the recovery of her arrested family members and feared that they might be taken out of Pakistan.
LAHORE, Dec 23: The Lahore police claimed before an anti- terrorism court on Monday that certain corroboratory evidence showing Dr Javed Khwaja’s connections with Al Qaeda had been collected and investigations to unearth further clues in this regard were in progress.
