Pakistan to deport Australian

Published May 9, 2003

CANBERRA, May 8: An Australian man detained in Pakistan for four months is to be deported with no charges laid after an investigation into his alleged links to Al Qaeda network, Australian officials said on Thursday.

An Australian foreign ministry spokeswoman said Pakistani authorities were in the process of deporting Jack Thomas, 29, a former taxi driver who was detained on January 4.

“They do not intend to charge him and he will be deported to Australia,” she said.

It was not known if Thomas would face charges in Australia.

“Participation in terrorism is a serious offence and we will investigate the alleged involvement of Australian citizens in terrorist activities,” said a spokeswoman for Attorney-General Daryl Williams.—Reuters

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