Pakistan HC clarifies position on escape of convicted criminal

Pakistan High Commission has put the record straight with reference to a news item carried by a section of British media on Sunday that "a dangerous convicted rapist" escaped from the custody of immigration officials while visiting the chancery for issuance of the travel document for his deportation.
A press release issued by the High Commission said Imtiaz Hussein, an alleged Pakistani, was brought to the High Commission without prior appointment, escaped from the custody of the UKBA's appointed Representatives.
"It is pertinent to mention that any deportation case has to be brought to the High Commission with prior appointment. In this case no prior arrangements were made with the Pakistan High Commission."
According to the media release, the High Commission only came to know about the incident after his escape from the custody of British officials. He was never presented before the High Commission's official deputed for the purposes of face to face interviews. "It is underlined that the MoU under which the co-operation is extended to the British Government pertains to the illegal immigrants only and NOT to the convicted criminals serving sentences or having served the sentence. As mentioned in the news reports that he was a dangerous person this fact was known to the agency which was handling his custody. The questions that arise are: why then did they bring him for the interview without prior information in the first place? And why the criminal was inadequately guarded? There are many questions that can be raised surrounding the entire episode."
The press release further stated that Pakistan High Commission has taken a serious note of the matter and conveyed its exceptions to the relevant British Authorities and also called upon them to convey to the British Media the factual position.
According to a report in "The Independent on Sunday", the British Police has launched manhunt after the 44-year-old Hussein escaped from immigration officials while being served with a deportation order.
The paper claimed Hussein escaped from the Pakistan High Commission in Lowndes Square, Central London , at around 2.35pm on Friday. He was serving a prison sentence in the north of England having been convicted of rape and false impersonation. A police spokeswoman said Hussein was at the commission because he was due to be deported at the end of his sentence.