Lahore: A Pakistani court on Wednesday rejected
the bail plea of five American Muslims facing trial for
planning terror attacks in the country and neighbouring
Afghanistan.
Ramy Zamzam, 22, Waqar Hussain Khan, 22, Ahmed
Abdullah Minni, 20, Iman Hasan Yemer, 17 and Omar Farooq, 24,
were arrested at Sargodha in Punjab province in December last
year.
A panel of defence lawyers asked the anti-terrorism
court in Sargodha to grant the five youths bail as they were
"innocent and had not committed any crime".
"All charges framed against the five boys are based on
assumptions," said Tariq Asad, the lawyer who led the panel.
But, the court rejected their bail plea.
Police have submitted a chargesheet that accuses the
youth of violating several sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act
and Pakistan Penal Code by allegedly hatching a criminal
conspiracy against the state and plotting terror attacks in
Pakistan and Afghanistan. The trial is yet to begin.
Khalid Khwaja, a former intelligence official who is
spearheading efforts to defend the Americans, told PTI that he
would now approach the Lahore High Court to seek bail for
them.
He said that despite a court order, the Americans were
not being provided medical treatment and reading material like
newspapers and books.
According to a joint investigation team of law
enforcement officials, the five youths were not happy with US
government policies in the Muslim world, especially in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Palestine.
They also developed contacts with an Arab named
Saifullah, who is believed to be an Al Qaida operative in
Pakistan.
"Saifullah had gone to the US and met them in Virginia
and ensured that he would help them fulfil their desire to
join hands with anti-US forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
After arriving in Pakistan, they were to meet him in
Mianwali on December 9 from where they were to go Hangu and
Kohat to meet some Al-Qaida people before leaving for their
final destination (Afghanistan)," the joint investigation team
said in its report.
"In Pakistan they were to target some important
installations on the direction of their (contacts). They also
had contacted someone in Dubai who is believed to be part of
the Al Qaida network," the report said.
The five youths have claimed on several occasions that
they were tortured by Pakistani and US operatives but these
allegations have been denied by Pakistani authorities.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 18:08