No country has asked for Libbi: Sherpao

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Friday said the agencies concerned were interrogating Abu Faraj al-Libbi, adding that the information provided by the key Al Qaeda member could not be disclosed yet.

He said the third most senior Al Qaeda operative would be dealt with under Pakistani laws against terrorism. No country, including the United States, has requested Pakistan to hand over Libbi, he said, and ruled out the involvement of foreign agencies in Libbi’s interrogation. The interior minister was addressing a graduation ceremony of an anti-trafficking unit (ATU) training course of the FIA personnel.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with the coordination of the US Department of Justice, the Interior Ministry and the FIA had organised this training session to counter human trafficking at the FIA Headquarters.

Sherpao said that Pakistan had launched the unit with an active support by the US government to build the capacity of FIA personnel. “The government will soon introduce the ATU system at provincial levels with the help of non-government organisations, provincial governments, FIA and the police to expand the spectrum of tackling the menace,” he said.

The minister said the government would establish shelter houses for the rehabilitation of victims across the country and the first ever shelter house would start operating in the capital soon.

“The government has also decided to launch a vigorous public campaign through the electronic and print media to educate people about the negative impacts of the crime,” he added.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Mission of US Embassy Trasia Finis said human trafficking was an issue of great concern and about 800,000 people were trafficked every year. FIA Director General Tariq Pervez highlighted the activities of the agency to curb the menace. He said the FIA had also established a telephone helpline to facilitate the people, adding that the service initially provided to Rawalpindi and Islamabad would later be extended to other cities.

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