SYDNEY, May 28: Australia denied on Wednesday “claims” by Pakistan that it had been holding up the release of an Australian man detained without charge in a Karachi jail on suspicion of terrorism.

“It’s just plain wrong to suggest that the government has been dragging its feet on the deportation of Jack Thomas to Australia,” a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

“Our consular officials have been working assiduously with authorities in Pakistan on arrangements for his deportation, including security arrangements,” she said.

She was speaking a day after Pakistan Interior Ministry Secretary Tasneem Noorani said his government had found no evidence linking Thomas to terrorism and was waiting for Australia to take him back.

But the Australian spokeswoman said deportation arrangements were the responsibility of the arresting country and in Thomas’ case Pakistan was required to make travel bookings and notify airlines of arrangements.

“Contrary to reports, we are currently awaiting a response from Pakistan on these arrangements,” she said.

Thomas “is in the hands of the Pakistani authorities and we are in close and regular contact with the interior and foreign ministries on the arrangements,” she said.

Thomas, 29, converted to Islam and changed his name to “Jihad” before allegedly travelling to Afghanistan to train in Al Qaeda terrorist camps.

The former taxi driver from Melbourne arrived in Pakistan about two years ago and was detained by Pakistan’s top spy agency on Jan 4 as he attempted to fly home.

Pakistani officials announced earlier this month that Thomas would be deported soon.

But a spokesman for Australian Attorney General Daryl Williams said on Tuesday that a police investigation into his case was continuing.—AFP