Hafiz Muhammed Sher Ali Khan, 76, right, and one of his sons, 24-year-old Izhar Khan, left, are shown in this courtroom drawing made Monday, May 16, 2011 in federal court in Miami. The elderly Miami imam and two of his sons are among six people charged with funneling at least $50,000 to the Pakistani Taliban, which violently opposes Pakistan's government and the US Three of those charged remain in Pakistan. – Photo by AP

MIAMI: An elderly Miami imam pleaded not guilty in US federal court on Monday to charges of supporting the Pakistani Taliban and was ordered held without bail.

The US government accuses 76-year-old Hafiz Mohammed Sher Ali Khan, four of his relatives and another person of funnelling money and providing support to the group.

He is the leader of Miami’s oldest mosque.

His attorney, Khurrum Wahid, expressed concern about his client being kept in jail. “He’s 76 years old and has health issues -- heart and cholesterol problems,” the lawyer said.

One of Sher Ali’s sons, 24-year-old Izhar Khan, also appeared in court for the first time since their indictment was unsealed. He is also an imam at a Florida mosque.

US Magistrate Judge Barry Garber scheduled another hearing for May 23. The six defendants are all Pakistanis, although some of them have US citizenship.—AFP