UK questions terror suspect’s escape
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Expressing concern over escape of Rashid Rauf, the alleged mastermind of the London terror plot, Britain has sought immediate explanation in this regard. According to details, Laura Davies a spokesperson of British High Commission in her statement said that Britain want immediate explanation regarding the escape of Rashid Rauf from the police custody.
Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the Interior Ministry, Brig (retd), Javed Iqbal Cheema while talking to a US News Agency said that the police is searching Rashid Rauf and after his escape two police officials were also detained and interrogation from them is underway. He informed that a 3-member inquiry committee comprised on police and officials of the Interior Ministry has been formed to probe the incident.
The Committee would submit its inquiry report within 48 hours, he added. The lawyer of Rashid Rauf, Hashmat Habib while terming the incident a mysterious one, claimed that it is the possibility that the officials not to want to handover him to the Britain. It was impossible for Rashid Rauf to escape from strict police custody, he added. Rashid Rauf, the alleged mastermind of the London terror plot was brought to Islamabad district courts from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Saturday. On the way back to jail while benefiting the darkness Rashid Rauf escaped from the custody of the police.
The officials detained two police personnel while registered case of negligence against three police officials. Source told Online that the inquiry committee which headed by Additional Secretary Interior Qazi Imtiaz comprised on Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ahmed Khan and Director FIA Mirza Yasin Baig. The Committee would present the report to the Interior Ministry and also likely to present to President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro.
The Interior Ministry has constituted a high level committee to probe escape of Rashid Rauf from police custody. Additional Secretary Interior Qazi Imtiaz will be Chief of the committee while Additional DG FIA Mirza Yasin Baig and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Aamir Raza have been included as members of the committee. The committee has been directed to submit its report within 48 hours, said a statement issued here on Sunday.
A Pakistani-British man suspected of involvement in an al Qaeda plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners over the Atlantic has escaped from custody in the Pakistani capital, a senior official said on Sunday. Rashid Rauf escaped on Saturday from outside an Islamabad court where police had escorted him for an extradition hearing.
“We’re trying our best to re-arrest him,” said Interior Ministry spokesman, Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema, speaking more than 20 hours after Rauf’s disappearance. Cheema gave no details on how Rauf escaped but he said the government had set up an inquiry to investigate the incident and report back within 48 hours. “This has to be sorted out, how it happened and who were involved in it,” he said. Rauf’s lawyer said his client’s flight was a mystery. “What made him do that when there was no major case against him and secondly, how did he manage this as 10 or 12 armed policemen were guarding him.