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| August 9, 2003 | Saturday | Jumadi-us-Sani 10, 1424 |
Uzair charged with helping Al Qaeda
NEW YORK, Aug 8: United States federal prosecutors charged a Pakistani man, Uzair Paracha, on Friday with conspiring to provide material support to Al Qaeda, more than four months after his arrest here.
The indictment filed in Manhattan federal court alleged that Mr Paracha, 23, met a known Al Qaeda operative in Pakistan and agreed to help that operative obtain documents to enter the US.
Mr Paracha — who has permanent resident alien status in the US — was arrested at the end of March at the office of the import company where he worked.
According to the indictment, a search of his belongings after his arrest revealed a Maryland driver’s license and a bank ATM/check card — both in the Al Qaeda associate’s name.
“This case demonstrates that Al Qaeda will go to great lengths to enlist support here in the US,” Attorney-General John Ashcroft said in a statement.
“Our efforts are focused on identifying and dismantling those rings of support on which our terrorist enemies seek to rely,” he said.
Mr Paracha faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.—AFP
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