Relatives of two Pakistanis said Sunday that they believe they are among 11 people detained in Britain on suspicion of planning a major terrorist attack, and insisted they were innocent and should be released. British officials have not named the suspects, but many are Pakistanis living in Britain on student visas.
The case has rattled British-Pakistani relations already under pressure over British investigations that have traced past terror plots to Pakistans north west, where al Qaida and the Taliban have strongholds. Relatives of Abdul Wahab Khan and Mohammad Ramzan said the two were room mates and studied at Liverpool John Moores University.
The families, who live in the north western town of Dera Ismail Khan, said they have been unable to reach them since the arrests were reported Wednesday. Both families said no government officials from either country had contacted them, and that they learned of the young mens arrests through their friends.
Haji Hazrat Ali told The Associated Press that Ramzan, his 25-year-old son, travelled to Britain in 2006 and was studying MBA. He loved studying business and has few friends outside his classmates, his father said. "He is a very humble, gentle boy and always concentrates on his studies," said Ali, who beseeched human rights groups for help. "firmly believe he simply cannot be involved in any negative activity."
Abdul Wahab Khans elder brother, Gulzar Jan, said he went to Britain in 2006 and was studying for a masters degree in information technology. His brother said Khan, also in his mid-20s, was not involved in politics and spent most of his time on studies.
"My brother is for sure innocent," Jan said. "He does not deserve the treatment he might be getting in custody in the U.K." British authorities rarely name suspects until they are charged. Police in Britain could not be reached Sunday to verify whether Ramzan and Khan were among those arrested.
Britains Daily Telegraph newspaper identified one of those arrested as Abdul Wahab Khan, who it says applied to John Moores University in 2006. It didnt provide the source of its information. A message left with the university was not immediately returned, although a statement posted on its Web site confirmed that one of its students was among 12 people arrested Wednesday.
Of the dozen, an 18-year-old has since been released without charge but faces questioning by immigration officials and could be deported. Britain has revealed little about the alleged plot, though Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it "very big." British media suggested that it could have been staged to coincide with the Easter holiday on Sunday.
Pakistani Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told reporters in Islamabad on Saturday that his government wants Britain to give information about the suspects so it can "verify whether they are Pakistanis and possibly "bring these culprits to justice."
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