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Rashid Rauf acquitted of terror charges

RAWALPINDI: A British man of Pakistani origin implicated in this summer’s foiled trans-Atlantic terror plot was on Wednesday acquitted of terrorism charges.

Judge Safder Hussan Malik of the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) referred the case of Rashid Rauf, 25, to the city’s District and Sessions Court, where he would face charges of false impersonation, document forging and explosives possession. Rauf’s lawyer Hashmat Habib said that the case before the civil court would begin from December 20, adding that he hoped all charges against the defendant would be dropped.

The prosecution had argued that Rauf’s possession of 29 bottles of hydrogen peroxide underlined his intent to make bombs. However, Rauf’s lawyer had argued in court that the chemical compound was also a recognised antiseptic used to clean wounds. But Rawalpindi police chief Saud Aziz was quoted as telling AFP that he would contest the ATC verdict and pursue the case, especially that of hydrogen peroxide, in the sessions court under the same charges.

Meanwhile a senior security official familiar with the case said that Rauf could be detained without charge for up to a year from his arrest in August under special anti-terror legislation.

“He has also been booked under the Security of Pakistan Act and this decision by the Anti-Terrorism Court will not make any material difference to the case,” he said on condition of anonymity. shahzad malik

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