WASHINGTON, Nov 26: A prominent activist of the Pakistani community in Texas was arrested this week apparently for not having proper legal status for staying in the United States.

Khalid Ali was talking to a group of friends outside the Shahnai restaurant in Houston, Texas, when some FBI officials approached him and asked him to accompany them.

“They told us that he is wanted for some investigation,” said Tariq Khan, one of the friends Mr Ali was talking to when taken into custody. “They gave no further information.”

Later, some friends learned that the FBI was investigating his status in the US. Although he was arrested on Tuesday night, his friends have not been able to get more information about the action, partly because of the long Thanksgiving holidays in the United States.