Islamabad, Sept 13: Islamabad today said that 15 Pakistanis detained in Italy for links with al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden carried false passports.
Pakistan Embassy in Rome has already informed the Italian government that the Pakistani passports held by the detained persons were false, the foreign office said reacting to reports from Italy that 15 Pakistanis have been arrested in Sicily on charges of terrorism.
"On 10 September 2002, after confirmation from the authorities concerned in Pakistan, the Embassy informed the Italian ministry of interior that the documents were false and had not been issued by the government of Pakistan, and requested consular access to determine the nationality of the individuals in custody," it said in a statement.
"The consular access has not been provided so far" it added.
The Pakistani Embassy has conveyed Islamabad's "concerns to the Italian government for making allegations before thoroughly investigating the matter and despite the fact that the government of Pakistan had informed them that the documents carried by the individuals were false," the statement said.
Bureau Report