LHC stops deportation of detained Pak-origin US nationals

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued orders against any possible bid to deport the five Pakistan-origin US nationals detained in Pakistan.

The five US nationals were arrested in Sargodha after an intelligence tip-off on December 7 and were transferred to a CID centre in Lahore on December 12 for further questioning

The LHC Chief Justice has also directed Interior Ministry and the concerned authorities to submit a report in this connection on December 17.

The Chief Justice issued this order on the petition filed by Khalid Khawja Advocate, who opined in his plea that the five detainees have not been made to appear before any court in the country; while, it was legally binding to present them in court within 24 hours following their arrest, The News reported.

The petitioner, fearing that these detainees would be handed to any other country, requested the court to take notice and order their trial here in country in accordance with the Pakistani law.

The men, in the age group of 19 to 25, had reportedly met with representatives of an Al-Qaida-linked group in Pakistan and asked for training, but were turned down, as they lacked references from trusted militants.

Reports also said that the men apparently tried to contact jihadist groups through Facebook and YouTube, and when they failed in their attempt, they traveled to Pakistan to attempt personal meetings. (ANI)