WASHINGTON: Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was briefly detained at the Houston airport after he landed in the city on Wednesday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Embassy in Washington told The Express Tribune that Ambassador Sherry Rehman has directed Pakistan's Consul General in Houston to take up the issue of Rasheed's detention with US authorities.
The spokesperson added that the Embassy has raised the matter with the State Department. Details on why Sheikh Rasheed has been detained were not immediately available.
Sheikh Rasheed was allowed to leave from the airport after a few hours. According to the spokesperson, he was questioned during his detention but was not given a reason on why he had been detained.
Ambassador Rehman in a subsequent tweet said that she had spoken with Sheikh Rasheed on the phone and that he was well. She added that the Rawalpindi based politician has been accompanied out of the airport by the Pakistan Consul General in Houston Aqil Nadeem.
Rasheed informed the media that his phones were confiscated and all the data was obtained from it by the airport authorities.
He said that Rehman was continuously in contact with him and she also criticised the behaviour of the authorities. She also protested that the phones were Rasheed’s personal property and that they should not have been taken away from him.
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@Beatle: He will be ready to be taken, but Haqqani will not be happy as his position will be compromised, as SR is Smarter than Haqqani, as SR never cought were as Haqqani almost electrocuted himself and was holding the hand of Zer also. Zer hardly escaped.
@Mohammed Arif: Then why the crib? He got his due. As all politicians from Pakistan are internationally renowned as crooks.
ordinary person, but Respected person and highprofile, so he deserve to be respect. when you travel next time and face the same the issure than your comment, cause i know problem and have been through it.
@Sheikh Rashid They don't make many like you.
Sharma, certainly you are not aware of international law on humanrights. Shaikh Rasheed has been a senior pariamentarian and was an important Minister. He is internationally recognized a politician, not a figure from Indian Film Industry.
Even after knowing well the background of Sheikh Rashid visa was granted to him by US embassy must be purposefully.. US immigrant/security official must have asked him the questions which they can't ask in Pakistan. I am sure he will be under American surveillance during his stay at US.
What is he doing in the country against whom he and his cohorts at DPC have 300 to 400 suicide bombers ready? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YptFa9NV2AE And, why on earth is Pakistan's government/embassy protecting him? After saying it 'on record' on national TV that 300 to 400 suicide bombers are ready, he should have been put through hours/days of questioning in Pakistan instead of him roaming free and flying to the very enemy's territory that he is busy spreading venom against.
@Umer: He is a Pakistani citizen and deserves the counslate/embassy servicise if needed.No harm in it.Americans must respect the personal views of other person's,as they always hide themselves behind free speech slogan.Or it is only suitable for american citizens only.
after Ik become PM all american pakistani should come back and say by by to usa for good
@Raj - USA: brriliant i lovt it and feelings are mutual by the way
i dont even know why we even bother to think visiting usa i just cant stand it after what we ve been through over the yeras
@Raj - USA:
Actually, he was questioned over his links with Hafiz. Strangely, ET doesn't mention it.
Few Hours! No, it is 5 hours detention!
So, Sheikh Rashid was detained by US immigration department or possibly by the Homeland Security and one wonders why? I am not sure which dress he was wearing? I suspect his hobnobbing with DPC may have been a factor and must have been tipped off by US intelligence from Pakistan. I don't think it could be due to the Cuban cigars he may have been carrying . May be he argued with one of the officers there. Anyway, he may have been wondering if he had a dual nationality and was carrying an American or British passport. He probably would not have gone through this five hour long detention.
This should and will be the fate of every Pakistani who supports terrorists and terrorism. If you are going to participate in the duffer-e-pak rallies, then stay at home and await eventual meeting with drones. If you want to come to America, believe in equality and diversity, even if you are anti-American for other reasons. Surprised that this terrorist supporter was allowed in eventually; obviously, the immigration folks at Houston had not seen his deaf-a-pakistan rally speeches and his support for terrorists like Hafiz Saeed.
As Sheikh Rashid says frequently: Every day is not Sunday. He was not detailed on Wednesday and should have known that it was not Sunday.
@sher-e-ali: "Even if he is just an ordinary citizen, its a good sign that under Sherry Rehman, things are improving. Compare this to Haqqani ‘s time." He is no ordinary citizen. He has the khakhis and their assorted assets behind him. If you are an ordinary citizen, then don't bank on the consul general walking you out of the airport. But on second thoughts, if you are any ordinary citizen, you wouldn't be flying to the US. You would be cursing the US based on what the likes of Sheikh and his ilk feed you.
Opening of NATO supplies wil be delayed for another six months. no need to be offended by stupid act of US authorities. Indies must not forget that George Fernendas was forced to stipped off at GFK airport. yes, US authorites, do apologize after stripping Indian ministers.
@Umar: well said.....lolxx
I wish our consulate would be as attentive to a common Pakistani's problems in foreign lands as well.
These politicians are so pathetic! I saw him speaking against the US in DPC jalsa and now he's on vocation in the same United States of America!
the attitude of us air port authorities is highly objectionable and irritable. this event indicates the level of mistrust and misconception of us pak relationship. as pakistani i must stress on the pakistani governmnet please throughly review our relationship with us and it must be based on merit so that such events of utmost insult can be avoided
He is ordinary or not, he was human and our great politician. The concerned persons should not only free him but also apologise him for harassment.
its regular procedure
Ideally, he should've been imprisoned for cohorting with the DPC thugs.
A discriminatory action from US authorities, Without any evidence; He should not be treated like this;
I can't find much sympathy for the man. Yeah, you can have your "everyone being treated equally" outrage. Governments probably wouldn't disagree with the concept. But, this is what happens when you're a loud mouth Taliban-style Jihad supporter and you also go to the countries you hate when you encounter the more common people who rank a fair amount lower on the power ladder.
This is a non issue. He is just a Pakistani by the name of sh Rasheed who has travelled to USA like thousands others who go there from around the world. They must have retained him on profiling and looks. He can decieve Pakistanis but cannot decieve all, at all times.
Also, continuing from previous mail. He must have been accidently allowed into the country without having a background check on him which it does usually. On realising the folly, the USA administration must have detained him and may be, will be soon deport him back to his HOMELAND. or one more conspiracy theory is he could have been detained to be shamed in the media. Atleast I my self have seen him being pictured with the DPC members on stage. What you sow, so shall you reap... Rgds P
Please keep him as a gift from us one less politician to worry about
@Umer: He is 8 times former minister and as you might know, people who serve as federal minister even for a brief stint get diplomatic passports. Will not be surprised that if he carries one and that may be the reason for involvement of Pakistani Consulate. Even if he is just an ordinary citizen, its a good sign that under Sherry Rehman, things are improving. Compare this to Haqqani 's time.
This is the same Sheikh Rasheed who threatened about the coming 300-400 suicide bombers if NATO supply root is opened,now what is wrong with such treatment actually he deserved this.
Sheikh Sb, congratulations for the privileged reception and guard of honor!! When it comes to our part, we feel it greatest pleasure & achievement to receive a low grade US official or a politician. Sham on our foreign office!!
During his last trip to USA just 2 - 3 months ago, Sheikh Rasheed was seated in a airplane on a local flight from Chicago. The American Passenger seated next to him asked the airline staff to change his seat and was moved to another seat. Sheikh Rasheed asked the American why he wanted to move to a different seat for which the American replied that "he did not want to be seated next to a Pakistani". I watched a recent TV Talk show where Sheikh Rasheed himself disclosed this, at least twice, and commented that the Americans hate Pakistanis.
Really Strange. Do the people in US not recognize such a great leader already known unversally?? I sincerely hope that they keep him there permanantly !!!!
US always does this with thier close ally.
@Yaida M: In pindi people were jubilant on the first news and sad on the second.
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed is not Shah Rukh Khan and doesn't belong to India and Pakistan is never like India for USA.So Pakistani nation and leaders even never think that US' airport or governmental officials shall apologize you for it whereas USA didn't apologize to Pakistan for intentional,willful and wittingly Salala check post's attack.How this possible that USA shall apologize on Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed's matter?
Sheikh Sb, congratulations for the privileged reception and guard of honor!! When it comes to our part, we feel it greatest pleasure & achievement to receive a low grade US official or a politician. Sham on our foreign office!!!
Expected move as he is member of DPC, a rogue organization soon to be banned. All these guys like Gul, Hamid and mullahs should be behind bars.
After blocking NATO supply route, did DPC send Sheikh Rashid to Huston to stop NASA supply route as well?
They may be suspecting he is hiding heroin under his jet black wig.
Sheikh Rashid was detained for five long hours and not briefly as mentioned at the headline of this news item.
Politicians of Pakistan talk against US and then they go over there for one reason or the other.
US is not a place for the people who have big mouth.
miss sherry rehman, please improve the working of pakistan consulates in usa, they need a lot of work!!the common pakistani deserves equal treatment!!
When this happened to Shah Rukh Khan, Indian foreign minister asked for and received an apology. Let us see if your country's foreign office can successfully speak on behalf of its citizens.
So what would be a better reply? Win from Rawalpindi, get into the government and hold the Americans for 'few hours' at Chaklala or by then the Fateh Jhang and have them the same taste.
Anyone with a Muslim name is detained at the airport and it is not restricted to the US alone. Even the great SRK was detained for which the US apologized later. I don't think the Americans will be apologizing to Sheikh Rasheed.
Why he went there?
Now you will need another apology.
poor soul!!
But this person is extremist in his views. In fact some of his views can be clearly seen as open support to violent jihad.
US was looking for info. on Hafiz Saeed from Sheikh Rasheed ???????
He abuses US and still goes there. Rightly he deserved this treatment. Ideal would have been to pack him back to Pakistan.
Why is his issue being taken up specially by the consulate? He is an ordinary citizen and should be treated as any other Pakistani citizen.