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Access 'denied' to jailed Briton | Access 'denied' to jailed Briton |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The British High Commission in Pakistan says that it has been denied access to a Briton imprisoned under suspicion of being a threat to national security. | The British High Commission in Pakistan says that it has been denied access to a Briton imprisoned under suspicion of being a threat to national security. |
Rengzeib Ahmed, from Manchester, has been detained since April 2006 in northern Pakistan without charge. | Rengzeib Ahmed, from Manchester, has been detained since April 2006 in northern Pakistan without charge. |
He is being held under the Security of Pakistan Act, which allows the indefinite detention of suspects deemed to be a national security threat. | He is being held under the Security of Pakistan Act, which allows the indefinite detention of suspects deemed to be a national security threat. |
But human rights groups say the act is being abused to detain him illegally. | But human rights groups say the act is being abused to detain him illegally. |
They say that Pakistanis and foreign nationals have all been detained under a blanket ordinance within the act. | They say that Pakistanis and foreign nationals have all been detained under a blanket ordinance within the act. |
"We have tried everything we can to see him in Adiala prison and to get confirmation of his nationality," a British High Commission spokesman told the BBC. | "We have tried everything we can to see him in Adiala prison and to get confirmation of his nationality," a British High Commission spokesman told the BBC. |
The Pakistani authorities have not commented on the high commission's allegations. | The Pakistani authorities have not commented on the high commission's allegations. |
Brother's letter | Brother's letter |
Adiala jail in the city of Rawalpindi is the main prison in northern Pakistan. | Adiala jail in the city of Rawalpindi is the main prison in northern Pakistan. |
Hundreds of Pakistanis have 'disappeared' in recent years | |
Rengzeib Ahmed has been confined there since his "official arrest" in April this year. | Rengzeib Ahmed has been confined there since his "official arrest" in April this year. |
His brother recently wrote a letter to the BBC saying the family had only been told about Rengzeib's arrest by the British police in 2006. | His brother recently wrote a letter to the BBC saying the family had only been told about Rengzeib's arrest by the British police in 2006. |
"I am very concerned about my brother, his health and how he is kept in Adiala prison," the brother, Mohammad Pervez, said. | "I am very concerned about my brother, his health and how he is kept in Adiala prison," the brother, Mohammad Pervez, said. |
The letter says that Rengzeib Ahmed "was taken by the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence and the American Central Intelligence Agency to an unknown place somewhere in Pakistan". | The letter says that Rengzeib Ahmed "was taken by the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence and the American Central Intelligence Agency to an unknown place somewhere in Pakistan". |
"He was kept for eight months and tortured," the letter says. | "He was kept for eight months and tortured," the letter says. |
Mr Pervez says his brother was then handed over to Pakistani police who sent him to Adiala prison, where he is currently being held. | Mr Pervez says his brother was then handed over to Pakistani police who sent him to Adiala prison, where he is currently being held. |
Rengzeib Ahmed was finally produced in a high court in June 2006. | Rengzeib Ahmed was finally produced in a high court in June 2006. |
He was remanded in custody for another two months, after prosecutors pleaded for more time to bring charges. | He was remanded in custody for another two months, after prosecutors pleaded for more time to bring charges. |
While granting the remand, the judges also ordered that Mr Ahmed be allowed legal aid. | While granting the remand, the judges also ordered that Mr Ahmed be allowed legal aid. |
However, human rights organisations accuse the authorities of abusing discretionary powers under the Security of Pakistan Act. | However, human rights organisations accuse the authorities of abusing discretionary powers under the Security of Pakistan Act. |
"We are concerned about the persistent abuse of the Security of Pakistan Act, which is used to detain suspects and hold them incommunicado for extended or indefinite periods," a spokesman for the Pakistani branch of Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. | "We are concerned about the persistent abuse of the Security of Pakistan Act, which is used to detain suspects and hold them incommunicado for extended or indefinite periods," a spokesman for the Pakistani branch of Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. |
"Human Rights Watch believes this contravenes the most basic principles of justice." | "Human Rights Watch believes this contravenes the most basic principles of justice." |