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| India-Pakistan |
| Karachi businessman arrested for al-Qaeda links |
| 2005-12-02 |
| Security agencies have picked up a Karachi-based businessman on the suspicion of having links to Al Qaeda and Taliban two days back when he was travelling from Karachi to Lahore for a business meeting, family members fear. Arif Qasmani, a leading businessman had participated in a meeting held between the US State Department officials and former MNA, Haji Javed Ibrahim Piracha two weeks ago in Peshawar for initiation of dialogue with Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership. The US State Department denies holding any meeting with Mr Piracha. According to Qasmani’s family members, he had gone to Lahore for a business meeting by PIA flight PK-302 on Tuesday morning, but he did not reach there as his business partner informed the Qasmani family about that on the same day. Family members say they have checked the final boarding list of the said flight, which carries Qasmani’s name that means he was picked up from Lahore. They say Arif Qasmani had also been arrested on August 14, 2005 by the security agencies, however, he was released after a two-day long interrogation about his alleged links to Al Qaeda and Taliban. Qasmani is an active member of Defence of Human Rights Committee, an NGO which provides legal assistance to the suspects picked up by the security agencies on the charge of having links to Al Qaeda and Taliban. The committee also comprises Haji Javed Ibrahim Piracha, a former MNA from Kohat and leader of PML(N), a former Air Force officer, Khalid Khuwaja and others. The family member say they believe that Qasmani has been picked by the security agencies at the behest of those US officials who had held the meeting with Haji Javed Ibrahim Piracha and Arif Qasmani. Security agencies had also picked up a Karachi-based businessman, Saifullah Piracha in the same fashion when he was on his way to Bangkok for a business meeting on the same charge. Saifullah Piracha is currently languishing in Guantanamo Bay camp while his son Uzair Piracha has recently been convicted by a US court for helping Al Qaeda militants. Talking to Online, Khalid Khuwaja, a spokesman for the Defence of Human Rights Committee demanded of the government to take notice of the "disappearance" of Arif Qasmani, and if he was required in any case or investigations, his arrest be made public. He said confirmed that Mr Qasmani had attended the respective meeting between US officials and Javed Ibrahim Piracha. He said Mr Qasmani might have been abducted by criminals, but the government should investigate into matter. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |