ISLAMABAD, 7 September 2006 — A leading businessman from Karachi, Saifullah Paracha, currently detained in Guantanamo Bay was involved in financing Al-Qaeda, Minister of State for Interior Zafarullah Warriach told the National Assembly yesterday.
He said the government secured permission from Pentagon for counselor access to the detained businessman. “Irrefutable evidence was presented to the Pakistani officials about Paracha’s close link with Al-Qaeda,” Warriach said.
The Sindh High Court and the Supreme Court are dealing with the case of Paracha and his son Uzair, who were picked up from Bangkok by FBI personnel and taken to an Afghan air base. Both father and son hold US Green Cards and had businesses in New York.
According to Paracha’s wife, who spoke to Arab News in Karachi earlier, the detained businessman was a heart patient. He was taken to Guantanamo Bay on Oct.15, 2004. Uzair, 24, was convicted on five charges and faces a jail term of up to 15 years.
Paracha has filed appeals to President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, US President George Bush and the US secretary of defense.
Meanwhile, during yesterday’s National Assembly session all opposition members and some government MPs gave a warm sendoff to BNP’s Rauf Mengal who has resigned to protest Bugti’s death.
Speaking in the National Assembly earlier Mengal said, “Musharraf government has made the lives of Balochs miserable. Our party has decided to quit assemblies.”
Agha Shahi Dies
Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Agha Shahi died here yesterday. He was 80.
Born in Mysore, Shahi was considered a successful diplomat of Pakistan. He has authored a number of books.
