Rashid Rauf

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Rashid Rauf, a dual citizen of Britiain and Pakistan, was arrested in Bhawalpur, Pakistan in connection with the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot in August 2006, a day before some arrests were made in Britain. The Pakistani Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, claimed that "he is an al Qaeda operative with linkages in Afghanistan".^[1] He is said to be one of the ringleaders of the alleged plot. In December 2006 the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi found no evidence that he had been involved in terrorist activities, and his charges were downgraded to forgery and possession of explosives.

Rauf is married to a relative of Maulana Masood Azhar, who is the head and founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, an Islamist militant group in Pakistan.^[2] One of Rauf's brothers, Tayib Rauf, was among those arrested in Britain, although he was later released without charges.

[edit] Timeline

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: After two weeks of interrogation and a careful search of his house, too little evidence had been found to justify his extradition.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

December 13: The terrorism charges on Rauf Rashid are dropped. The Pakistani court recognize there is no evidence that he is involved in terrorism. The British government has stated this makes no difference to their proceedings against the other suspects whom they hold.^[9]

December 14 2007: Rashid Rauf miraculously escaped from jail. Authorities say that he escaped after freeing himself from handcuffs. The two police officials on the duty are currently under arrest by Islamabad Police. The Police has also tightened security at public transport routes and especially at Rauf's native town, Mirpur (Azad Kashmir).

See also: Timeline of the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot