A Pakistani terror suspect has appeared in court here 18 months after his extradition from South Africa and is being held for alleged links to the 2005 London bombings, his lawyer said Wednesday.
Khalid Mehmood Rashid, 25, attended a federal review board hearing at the Supreme Court in Islamabad for the first time last week and his detention was extended by three months, his lawyer Hashmat Habib said.
London-based human rights group Amnesty International said Rashid was handed over to Pakistan by South Africa in November 2005, and had been in the custody of Pakistan's intelligence service as of April 16. "There is no documented charge against him but my understanding is that he is wanted in connection with the July 7, 2005 attacks in Britain," lawyer Habib told AFP.
"When arrested in South Africa for overstaying his visa, the information was shared with Pakistan and a special plane was sent to bring him back to the country," he added. A Pakistani security source confirmed that Khalid's contacts to the London bombers were being investigated.
Four suicide bombers, three of Pakistani origin, blew themselves up on London's transport system on July 7, 2005, killing themselves and 52 others and wounding more than 700. At least two of the four bombers were known to have visited Pakistan in the months before the attacks.
Amnesty said Rashid appeared before the review board on April 12 and authorities were ordered to transfer him to a prison in Rawalpindi, and allow him access to his family and medical care, citing unidentified Pakistani sources.