Islamabad, June 13: Tariq-ur-Rehman, one of ten Pakistani students detained by British police in April on terror-related charges, accused his prison guards of religious harassment and abuse.
“They committed sacrilege of Noble Qur’an many times,” a visibly moved Tariq told, on his arrival at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad. “When we read the Qur’an, they came with sniffing dogs and let them sniff the Qur’an.
“We used to cry and begged them not to do that but they said it was their duty.”
Weeks after highly-publicized raids to allegedly foil a “very big” terror plot, all Pakistani students were released without charge, leaving British anti-terror officials red-faced. They were transferred into the custody of the UK Borders Agency, which controls immigration into Britain, for deportations on grounds of national security.
Tariq, the first of the students to return home, accused British prison guards of abuse.
“I will unmask the face of Goras,” he said, using a local term used for Britons.
“We were kept in cells specified for hardcore criminals. They treated us like criminals rather than defendants,” he recalled.
“They often interrupted us during prayers and forced us to break (the prayer) without any reason.”
His London-based lawyer Amjad Malik, who accompanied his client to Pakistan, also cried foul.
“They got the counsels and relatives of detained students, naked for search when they went to meet them.”
The British government rejected the student’s accusations.
“The British government has provided all facilities to the detained students in line with their religion. This includes provision of Halal food, and facilities for five times prayers,” British High Commissioner to Pakistan Robert Brinkley said in a press release.
Brinkley also rejected allegations about the sacrilege of the Muslim holy book.
“We have great respect for the Holy Quran.” On arrival Tariq, who was escorted by five British police officials, was taken to the office of Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) for questioning.
“He will not be detained for sure,” one security official told, wishing not to be named.
Tariq’s lawyer too confirmed that Pakistani authorities have cleared his client of all charges.
British hell
As soon as he landed at the airport, Tariq, a widower with three children who went to UK on post study two-year visa, knelt down and kissed the ground with tears rolling down his cheeks.
“This is an unexplainable trauma. I am seeing the open sky after 62 days,” he told.
“I am sorry that I am not able to reply to your all questions because I am not in my full senses.”
He was welcomed by a large number of relatives, friends, besides his elder brother were there to welcome him home.
“I am thankful to Allah that I am again with my dear and near ones,” am emotional Tariq said while being hugged by his relatives and friends.
He has accepted an offer from the British Home Secretary to leave voluntarily on the condition that the deportation order against him would be withdrawn.
“His deportation orders were withdrawn by the British authorities,” said his London-based lawyer Amjad Malik, who accompanied his client to Pakistan.
“He could have lived there, but he chose to come back in protest against the treatment of British police in jail.”
Tariq nodded affirmatively.
“I could have stayed there, but did not want to. I didn’t want to live in a so-called civilized country where worst kind of human rights violations are committed in the name of security,” he maintained.
“I don’t want to go back there.”
-Agencies