October 11, 2006	Wednesday	Ramazan 17, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: A relative of London terror plot accused Rashid Rauf on Tuesday invoked writ jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court (Rawalpindi bench) against his arrest and detention by secret agencies.

Mr Rauf was picked up by law-enforcement agencies on August 9, 2006, from Bahawalpur on suspicion of his involvement in the plot to blow up airliners in London and since then he has been in their custody. His relatives have no knowledge of his whereabouts or charges against him.

Petitioner Zahoor Akhtar, one of his relatives, has taken the plea that Rashid Rauf is innocent and has nothing to do with the plot.

He should, therefore, be immediately set free and the outcome of investigations against him be made public, says the petition.

The directors general of the Inter Services Intelligence and the Intelligence Bureau, secretary interior, foreign office and director National Crisis Management Cell have been made respondents in the petition. The court will take up the case on October 13.

The petitioner’s counsel, Hashmat Ali Habib has contended that after the unearthing of the plot, the Pakistan government announced arrest of five Pakistanis and a British national described as the ‘key person’ in the plot and having ties with Al Qaeda.

They were accused of plotting to blow up US-bound transatlantic airliners. Although Rashid Rauf had lived in London but he came to Pakistan in April, 2002, about four years before the incident.