Latvian Court extended detention of 10 Pakistanis till Dec 27
ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: The Secretary Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Latvia, J Reksna has said that the Northern
District Court of Riga City has extended the detention of 10 Pakistani prisoners arrested on Terrorism charges, till
27th of Dec. The Secretary Ministry of Interior of Latvia, J Reksna in his letter to Ansar Burney Welfare Trust
International has informed that the arrest of 10 Pakistanis were made under Article 51 (1) paragraph 1, on 21st Nov from
the Hotel Aurora, at street 5 in Riga City on Terrorism charges."The ten citizens of Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
Mohammad Shafique Marllowe, Chaudhry Muhammad Mansha, Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqi, Mohammad Akmal Siddiqi, Muzaffar Hayyat
Khan, Ateeq-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Zahid, Imran Malick, Ejaz Ahmed and Muhammad Akmal who entered Latvia on 15th Nov 03,
via State Boarder Guard, Riga Department boarder checkpoint Airport, were arrested on 21st Nov on suspicion of
terrorism", he said.According to Latvian Police they have detained 10 Pakistani citizens, on November 21, fearing
Pakistanis might have been preparing a terrorist attack targeting the visiting Israeli basketball team. Meanwhile the
Pakistan's human rights activist Ansar Burney, Advocate has strongly condemned the arrest of 10 Pakistani players
of Taekwando on Terrorism charges and challenged their arrest in the District Court of Riga. "These Pakistanis were
innocent and not involved in any sort of crime or terrorism", Ansar Burney informed the Court as well as to the
Interior Ministry. In his application in the Latvian Court, Ansar Burney, Advocate has declared the arrest of 10
Pakistanis as illegal and said; this arrest has defamed Pakistan and its nationals and mount to be a discrimination
between the human beings on country and religion basis, so he reserves the rights to challenge the same UN and other
International levels on defamation charges against Latvia. Ansar Burney warned if Latvia government failed to release 10
innocent Pakistanis soon he would have no other option except to challenge this illegal arrest and detention in the
International Court of Justice, United Nations Human Rights Commission and other International platforms. "These
Pakistanis are innocent Taekwando players who went to Riga to participate in international games on an invitation from
Latvia, with legal visas and completing all other legal formalities, but were arrested from their hotel on terrorism
charges on a crime they had never committed". Ansar Burney informed the Court."Even no weapons or other
hazardous materials were found during a search of their hotel." He added."The crime as far as Ansar Burney
Welfare Trust International has come to know, on which these 10 Pakistani innocent players were arrested in Latvia is;
they had return flight to Pakistan via Russia in a plane in which Israeli team was suppose to travel". Ansar Burney
said. Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International has collected, these 10 Pakistani players who went to Latvia, on 15th
November stayed in a local hotel and took part in games. They got valid visas at the Riga Air port till 23rd November.
When they made reservation for their return to Pakistan for 22nd by Aeroflot via Russia, they were arrested a day before
their return on the fake terrorism charges. "What a laughing joke that these Pakistanis arrested on a terrorism
charge and the charge is that they were traveling in a flight in which Israeli Jews were suppose to travel". Burney
added.He said first of all no body knows who is traveling on which flight and even if know; Ansar Burney asked;
'since how long is it become a crime for Pakistanis or Muslims if they travel in such flights"?
(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
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RUSSIA IN FACTS
