Karachi court asks police to charge FBI agent

E-Paper | June 25, 2026

KARACHI: A judge at a Karachi court has asked police to file formal charges against an FBI agent arrested from the airport after allegedly carrying ammunition and three knives onto an airplane.

FBI agent Joel Cox is free on Rs1 million ($9,800) bail.

Police investigator Khalid Mahmood said Cox appeared Saturday before judicial magistrate Mohammed Ali Memon. Mahmood said police told the judge they needed more time to file formal charges.

Cox is expected back in court May 19, the deadline given by the judge to the police for submitting the challan for the case.

Editorial: FBI agent's arrest

Cox arrived in Karachi on May 1 and was detained Monday after officials found him with the ammunition, knives and electronic devices as he was preparing to board a flight to Islamabad.

Mahmood said the FBI agent's passport was with police, although no court has issued an order to stop him from traveling abroad.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Dar says world now recognises Pakistan as a 'peacemaker' for role in US-Iran mediation

Country observes Muharram 9 amid tight security arrangements

Police launch high-level probe into horrific rape, murder of 3-year-old girl in Karachi's Quaidabad

Abdul Malik

May 10, 2014 04:44pm

The Judge has the guts ! Bravo. File formal charges, proceed against him according to the prevailing relevant law and bring this agent to justice. There should not be any exception, regardless.

Recommend 0

ali

May 10, 2014 05:59pm

Do with him what America would have done with a Pakistani. But we all know this is all just drama, nothing will happen and they will just let him go like they let Raymond Davis go.

Recommend 0

Ayesha

May 10, 2014 06:29pm

So the officials think that he was carrying the arms, and ammunition with no criminal intentions, do they have any idea why he was carrying them? A gift for the US Embassy.

Recommend 0

Naveed

May 10, 2014 07:03pm

What kind of comments are these from the Pakistani politicians cited here "Cox had no criminal intentions in carrying bullets during the flight". How have they judged his intentions, is there any instrument for verifying intentions? If yes, then why is it not used in hundred and thousands of cases in which normal human beings and Pakistanis are involved. Simply put, out politicians do not have the courage to put the illegal actions of the US under fair trial. While our innocent people are detained and punished, and no body pays a heed to the cries of their family, the voice of the government and the human rights agencies even on humanitarian grounds.

Recommend 0

Naseer

May 10, 2014 08:40pm

This is a good step by the courts. All people should be dealt according to law. I hope courts also have the will and courage to impose these laws on terrorists who have killed more than 60,000 innocent Pakistanis and the count increases with each passing day.

Recommend 0

IKE

May 10, 2014 09:40pm

"Pakistani officials have said they found that Cox had no criminal intention in carrying the bullets during the flight." See Police is already siding with Cox. This is what we expected from this police.

Recommend 0

Aftab Alam Khan

May 10, 2014 10:00pm

Raymond Davis case repeated again. How it affects Pak-American relationship is a question to ask.

Recommend 0

asif

May 10, 2014 10:28pm

Oh whatever is there a court in this country that will bring a case against the Saudi prince who killed 2100 of an endangered species illegally? No chance at all, America is far too nice to Pakistan, it should send an aircraft carrier and do some flyovers in Karachi to send a message to this childish government. America feeds this country far more than Saudi Arabia so we should treat them as well as the Saudis.

Recommend 0

Anupam

May 10, 2014 11:34pm

Legal proceedings are fine,even though we all know what will come of them,but why is the man handcuffed ? Handcuffing is hardly seen these days.

Recommend 0

Fazal

May 11, 2014 12:27am

Dr Afia Siddiqi had no gun, no bullets but they still injured her and sentenced her in jail for life. FBI agent was caught with trying to board a plane with gun and bullets but now police is saying there was no gun only bullets were found and they set him free on bail and soon he will be flying out of the country. This is the way how a Master and slave deal with each other.

Recommend 0

Ramesh Manghirmalani

May 11, 2014 02:54am

@Ayesha Gift for US Embassy

Recommend 0

Daanish

May 11, 2014 07:14am

" Do to them as they do to you, if get caught "

Recommend 0

Adi

May 11, 2014 08:00am

@Fazal umnnnn. For 12 billion dollars yah all better jump when the US says so. Don't like it? Stop askin

Recommend 0

glassyman

May 11, 2014 11:35am

Strange amreekan, I think he didnt know that let alone knives he could have bought a brand new kalashnikov in pakistani arms market.....

Recommend 0

glassyman

May 11, 2014 11:37am

@Naveed my dear friend even a layman knows carrying bullets or kitchen knives is prohibited in airplanes. Here s a CIA agent caught with bullets and knives which are easily available in pakistan y bother to bring extra baggage from amreeka when u can buy the most sophisticated weapons in pakistan....

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Resecurity partners with BankIslami Pakistan to enhance digital risk monitoring and cyber threat intelligence

The partnership marks a significant step in strengthening BankIslami's cybersecurity posture through cutting-edge intelligence capabilities.

Alif Holdings hosts Real Estate CEOs Conference with Bilal Yaseen live podcast by Mansoor Ali Khan

Topics expected to be discussed include housing policy, urban development, investment confidence, infrastructure planning and the future outlook of Pakistan’s real estate industry.