NYC terror plot case: Verdict reserved on Pakistani-American’s extradition to US

Talha Haroon arrested in Pakistan in 2016 after US authorities accused him of planing attack in New York city

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reserved its judgement in a case pertaining to extradition of a US citizen of Pakistani origin to America, allegedly involved in planning an attack in New York city.

Talha Haroon, 19, was arrested in Pakistan in 2016 after US authorities identified him as one of three men, along with a Canadian citizen and a man from the Philippines, planning attacks on Manhattan’s Times Square and the city’s subway.

Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiani heard the case filed by Muhammad Haroon, father of the accused, challenging the district administration's decision to extradite his son Talha to the US.

The petitioner's counsel pleaded before the court that the US government had always turned down Islamabad's request to repatriate its citizen and cited the example of former Pakistani ambassador Hussein Haqqani who is accused in Memogate case.



Justice Kiani remarked that America had returned a citizen on Pakistan's demand. The counsel told the court that the siblings of Talha were still residing in the US and no legal requirements were fulfilled in the case of his client.

No investigation was carried out against his client, rather  a formal inquiry was only conducted, he added. However, the prosecutor stated that Talha was declared an accused in December 2018.

After hearing the arguments from both the sides, the bench reserved its judgement in the matter.

It may be mentioned here that an additional deputy commissioner had ordered for extradition of Talha to the US after conducting an inquiry regarding his involvement in planning attacks in New York city with connivance of other accused.

With additional input from Reuters