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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Rashid not illegally deported, says court |
| 2007-02-18 |
| Department of Home Affairs officials may have acted "suspiciously" when they deported Pakistani immigrant Khalid Rashid, but there was no sufficient proof that they knew he was wanted for questioning in connection with alleged acts of terror when he was handed to Pakistani authorities, three high court judges have ruled. A full bench of the court, headed by Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe, on Friday rejected an application to have Rashid's arrest, detention and deportation declared unlawful, unconstitutional, an "enforced disappearance" and a "crime against humanity". Ngoepe, Judge Cynthia Pretorius and acting Judge JLM Snijmann said there was no reason to question evidence by senior Department of Home Affairs officials that Rashid was arrested because he was an illegal immigrant. Rashid had admitted that he entered the country without a visa and bought a fake work permit, and had told authorities he did not want to appeal the decision to deport him. The department also placed evidence before the court in which Pakistan admitted receiving Rashid in his home country, although no further particulars were furnished for "reasons of security". |
| Posted by:Fred |