A US national, arrested on Friday for allegedly scouting nuclear facilities near the federal capital, was sent on a 14-day judicial remand by a trial court.
The 27-year-old, named Mathew Craig Barret, is likely to be deported in a few days. The interior ministry cancelled his visa last month, sources told The Express Tribune on the suspicion of his spying on the country’s nuclear facilities. Until he is deported, Barrett will remain in Adiyala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Police sources claimed that the interior ministry had sent a letter to the additional inspector-general (Special Branch), Islamabad, to trace Barrett’s whereabouts after he escaped from Fateh Jang last month following a scuffle with security agencies officials.
“He scuffled with security officials (manning the) outer-most cordon of the nuclear facilities after he was captured from near the area. Later, a case was registered against him with the Fateh Jang police. However, he had dodged arrest,” claimed an official of the police. After the AIG reported that he was living with a family in Sector E-11, the ministry directed the police to arrest Barrett, whose multiple business entry visa was otherwise valid till November 2 this year. The man’s visa was cancelled on May 20 after he was blacklisted.
The ministry directed the Islamabad police to deport Barrett before June 4. However, he could not be arrested before Friday, June 11.
Sources maintain that security agencies had been trailing Barrett for a long time for ‘suspicious activities’ and his visits to areas with sensitive installations, including nuclear facilities at Jhang Bahtar near Fateh Jang.
He has been married to a Pakistani girl for almost three-and-a-half years. Earlier, the couple had been living with the girl’s parents in Sector G-8/1. Later, the Barrett family moved to Sector E-11.
Security officials said Barrett told them he was “enjoying married life peacefully in Pakistan without indulging in any unlawful activity”.
Police said that, although his family did not resist the arrest, his father-in-law, who is a lawyer, later went to the ministry of interior and protested against Barrett’s arrest. He maintained that his son-in-law’s arrest was unlawful.
Once deported after being black-listed, Barrett will never be able to return to Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.
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mathew innocent. there is no atomic installations there where he was kidnapped and released when intevened by fedral govt authorities as he was cleared by top agenccies about oneyear ago at peshewar khyber pukhtoonkhwa, u can see the statement in the news daily ' clearance.' he was again arrested by golra police. two false cases registered on the directive of d.g offfice of most noble agency by the fedral govt and pujab govt. in the fateh gang case granted bail by honourable judge and golra islam abad case declared unlaw full by the honourable judgel lslam abad and fir dismissed.the most notorious men involved in such fake and fraud drama who themselves charged in international terrorist activities like mombai case.he turned to islam some years back and got married with pukhtoonkhwa lady settled at islam abad have two kids.the govt establishments in the world has been working aghainst their own people . they have been involved to cheat their people and usurping their fundamental rights and have became international mofia united aghainst the freedom and human rights. wikki leak disclosed their evil games. you must know all the fascists had been defeated by the great pukhtoons the most freedom loving nation of the world like british evil fascist colonials and ussr ect. the family of wife of mathew belongs to mansehra torghur and battagram. they are great yousafzai/swati pukhtoos who know how to protect themselves and dignity. they will tke mostproper actions aghainst those who have involved to insult avd torturing the their son in law ang his family. wait wait and wait..............................