ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: The Foreign Office summoned Britain’s Acting High Commissioner Ray Kyles on Friday and conveyed to him Pakistan’s concern and consternation over the treatment meted out to relatives of Pakistan Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain by the British anti-terror police.
Chaudhry Shujaat’s younger brother, Wajahat, his three nephews and two other people were detained on Tuesday for several hours under the anti-terror law after their arrival at the Gatwick airport from Spain. They were subsequently deported to Pakistan.
Acting Foreign Secretary Moiz Bokhari deplored the action of the British authorities and asked the acting high commissioner to ensure that such incidents would not recur. He also sought an explanation of the circumstances which led to the ugly incident.
The British diplomat, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, conveyed regrets of his government and said the incident had taken place because of a misunderstanding.
“These persons are free to travel to UK and their visas remain valid,” he was quoted as having told the acting foreign secretary.
Pakistans High Commission in London is pursuing the matter with the British authorities, the Foreign Office statement said.
MEETING WITH SHUJAAT: Meanwhile, personnel of the British High Commission in Islamabad visited the residence of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Friday and conveyed their government’s profound regret over the Gatwick airport incident which had taken place because of an inaccurate tip-off from a European country.
According to a press release issued by Chaudhry Shujaat’s office, the personnel of the high commission indicated that the passengers interrogated and deported would be welcome to revisit the UK any time.
The PML president told the British mission’s personnel that he was considering legal action for the wrongful detention of members of his family and other Pakistani passengers accompanying them.
Chaudhry Shujaat said he was consulting his lawyers in Pakistan and the UK as he considered the incident a gross violation of human rights and a manifestation of Islamophobia gripping the West, the press release added.
