Printer Friendly Version

Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 28/08/2006

RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 28 AUGUST, 2006

Opening Statement

A number of questions have been asked about Rashid Rauf in the last day or so. Let me begin by giving you some additional information about him. Rashid Rauf was arrested in Rawalpindi. This should put at rest all the speculations about the place his arrest. Presently, he is under detention. We are investigating his involvement in terrorist activities in three areas: One, his links with Al Qaeda; two: threat projected in the United Kingdom and three: threat projected in Pakistan.

The information obtained from our investigations is being shared with the United Kingdom through appropriate channels.

QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION

Asked, with reference to the Opening Statement, whether the UK Government had formally sought the extradition of Mr. Rashid Rauf and what issues were to be considered before his extradition took place, the spokesperson said:

Yes, we have received a formal request from UK for his extradition and the matter is under consideration. Naturally, there are ongoing investigations in Pakistan. As I have already said the investigations in the three specific areas are continuing.

In response to follow-up questions as to why she had not denied the speculations that Rauf was arrested in Bahawalpur and why she had said that he was arrested from in the Punjab province when he was arrested in Rawalpindi and also why more information was not being released, the spokesperson said:

I never specified any particular town or area I confirmed to you that he was arrested in the Punjab province and Rawalpindi is part of the Punjab province. The only authoritative words on this subject were the two statements that we issued. If any one chose to be misled by speculations, I am sorry that is not my problem. I never said that he was arrested from Bahawalpur. We repeatedly said that the media reports were speculative.

I understand your concerns. I understand that you want to know more about this case, but please also try to understand that this is a very sensitive case. We have already mentioned in the two statements that were issued that Rashid Rauf's arrest took place after some specific information was received from the British Government. We have also today given you the three specific areas in which investigations are being conducted.

In response to a question about the date of Rashid Rauf's arrest, the Spokesperson said:

I do not have the exact date but his arrest took place before the arrests in the United Kingdom. They occurred between the 9 th and 10 th of August. You may like to contact Secretary Interior for more information.

Asked whether the legal rights of Rashid Rauf were respected, whether the UK had sought consular access? Can we expect that his legal rights would be protected? the spokesperson said:

The assumption hat his legal rights would be violated is wrong and without justification. It is not fair to say that since he is in Pakistan he would miss the due process of law. I understand that the people who have been under custody in the UK did not have a lawyer. There are still people in custody who have not been charged. Obviously these investigations have been going on without lawyers. Also do not forget that in the war against terrorism there have been cases where people have been detained for years without lawyers. So do not say that it happens in Pakistan and not elsewhere.

Consular access has not been requested. I have already confirmed that we have received a request for extradition and earlier we had received a request for mutual legal assistance.

In response to a question whether Rashid Rauf's remand had been extended, the Spokesperson said:

I do not know if a second remand has been taken. If the initial one was for fourteen days, perhaps a second remand would have been obtained. I am not in a position to confirm that. This is something Secretary Interior may be able to tell you.

Responding to a comment that Pakistan did not respect the rights of detainees because earlier Pakistan had handed over Al Qaeda suspects to the US ignoring their legal rights, the spokesperson said:

Those people who were caught and handed over to the US were not Pakistanis; they were nationals of third countries, which were not willing to accept them. Secondly, they were wanted for a crime in the US.

Asked whether her earlier assertion that there was a link between the terrorist plotters and the Afghanistan based Al Qaeda did not necessitate cooperation and intelligence sharing with Afghanistan, the spokesperson said:

As for as I know the information which has been derived from the investigations we are conducting has been shared mainly with the United Kingdom.

In response to a question about the status of BLA in the U.K, the spokesperson said:

According to our information the British Government has completed the procedure for declaring the BLA as a terrorist organization.

Asked about the purpose of Gen. Abizaid's visit to Pakistan, the spokesperson said:

Gen. Abizaid is the Commander of the American's Central Command. He visits Pakistan periodically for consultations with the military authorities here. That's what is on his agenda this time as well.

Asked to confirm President Musharraf's visit to the U.S, the spokesperson said:

We have not yet formally announced the visit of the President to the US, though there was a reference to it in the context of President Bush's telephone call to the President. yet we have talked about it. Yes the visit would take place. Details are being worked out.

Asked whether there was any likelihood of a meeting between President Musharraf and Prime Minster Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the NAM Summit meeting in Cuba, the spokesperson said:

The President is likely to attend the NAM Summit in Havana, Cuba. We believe that the Indian Prime Minister is also attending the Summit. Naturally, if the two leaders are there, they will come across each other.

When her attention was drawn towards the reports suggesting that both Afghanistan and India had deplored the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, the spokesperson said:

I have to look it at the statements first. I have not seen the statements therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment.

When her attention was drawn to a map published in a US journal that shows territorial changes in the countries of the Muslim world, including Pakistan, the spokesperson said:

I have seen the media reports about the publication. Let me first check out the details.

Asked whether any member of the international community had raised any concern on the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, the Spokesperson said:

This is an internal matter of Pakistan and we do not expect any Government to get in touch with us or comment on it. Since it is an internal matter, I am not the appropriate person to discuss this subject.

Responding to comments that political assassinations had international ramifications, the spokesperson said:

It is not the view of the Government of Pakistan that this was a political assassination. The Ministers for Interior, Information and other officials have already spelt out the circumstances of Mr. Bugti's death. Again I would say that since it is an internal matter I am not right person to respond to your questions.

In response to a question about the decision of the Tripartite Commission to monitor the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and whether it meant NATO troops would now enter Pakistani territory, the spokesperson said:

Your interpretation of the Tripartite Commission decision is surprising. Although a Joint Statement was released to the media at the end of the meeting, I want to read to you the specific lines of the Joint Statement that was issued at the end of the Tripartite Meeting:

‘The participants discussed and agreed to a proposal to conduct a coordinated patrols by the Afghan National Army, Pakistan Army, coalition forces and NATO/ ISAF forces based in Afghanistan on their respective sides of the border simultaneously.'

This makes it amply clear. The emphasis is on “their respective sides of the border”.

When her comments were sought on Israel's attack on Gaza and its brutalities against the innocent Palestinians, the spokesperson said:

Pakistan's position on this issue is very clear. We condemn such target killings, because we believe that they would just feed the cycle of violence.

Asked about Pakistan's reaction to the violation of LoC by India, the spokesperson said:

We have already lodged a formal protest with India. There were two such violations in which innocent civilians were fired upon. This is a matter of concern for us. The ceasefire was holding very well, but now in the period of two weeks, we have seen two such violations by the Indian side. We have lodged a formal protest in this regard.