Rashid Rauf

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Rashid Rauf is, according to Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, "... a British citizen of Pakistani origin. He is an al Qaeda operative with linkages in Afghanistan".^[1] He was arrested in Bhawalpur, Pakistan in connection with the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot, a day before arrests were made in Britain. Rauf has dual citizenship in Pakistan and Britain, and is married to a relative of Maulana Masood Azhar.^[2] Azhar is the head and founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, an Islamist militant group in Pakistan. One of Rauf's brothers is Tayib Rauf, who was among those arrested in Britain.

August 12: U.S. and British sources said Rashid Rauf had a key operational role in the alleged plot. Rauf, a British citizen, appeared before magistrate, according to Pakistan's Interior Ministry. Rauf is believed to have left the UK after his uncle was killed in 2002. He was not charged over the murder, which has never been solved.^[3]

August 15: Pakistan said it may extradite Rauf to Britain, although no request had been received, according to The Associated Press.^[4]

August 17: The alleged UK airport terror plot was sanctioned by al Qaeda's No2, Ayman al Zawahri, according to Pakistani intelligence. The latest investigations by Pakistan indicate that Rashid Rauf, was the planner of the alleged attacks. "We have reason to believe that it was al Qaeda sanctioned and was probably cleared by al Zawahri", said a Pakistani official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.^[5]

August 19: A lack of evidence was revealed soon after the arrest [1].

August 22: In Pakistan, law enforcement authorities continued to interrogate Rashid Rauf over his alleged key role in the plot, officials told The Associated Press. Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said British police were conducting inquiries in Pakistan but were not involved in questioning Rauf.^[6]

August 26: Pakistani Interior minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said Rashid Rauf had “wider international links” and was in touch with an Afghanistan-based al-Qaida leader. He did not offer any evidence to back up his claim. Pakistan has withheld information about at least seven suspects, whom security officials say were arrested on Rauf’s information. Pakistan has no extradition treaty with Britain, but Mr Sherpao said they would consider deporting Rauf to London if any such request was made to them. Rauf, in his mid-20s, is believed to be being interrogated by Pakistan agents near the capital, Islamabad. He had ties by marriage to Maulana Masood Azhar, leader of an al Qaida-linked Pakistani militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed. Azhar has lived in Bhawalpur, a city in eastern Pakistan where Rauf had also settled. However, Pakistan has said the group had no links to the plot.^[7]