Acquitted terror suspect returns home, is arrested again

Two brothers were arrested in 2004 for abetting al Qaeda and Jandullah.

KARACHI: Dr Akmal Wahid, who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2010 on charges of maintaining contacts with terrorist organisations and providing medical assistance to their members, has been deported back to Pakistan.

Dr Akmal was immediately taken into custody by law enforcement agencies upon arrival at Karachi airport. Sources revealed to The Express Tribune that Dr Akmal’s wife and other family members were present to receive him, however, they were not allowed to meet them.

Dr Akmal’s elder brother, Dr Ajmal Wahid, had moved a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) last year against the arrest of his younger brother, Dr Akmal, who had been arrested in Rasul Khaima, UAE. The petitioner said Dr Akmal had been serving as a physician in a hospital in Rasul Khaima for two years.

The government during a hearing told the court that the UAE administration had confirmed the arrest of Dr Akmal, and that he would be deported once his case was completed.

Dr Akmal and his brother Dr Arshad Wahid were arrested in 2004 on charges of attacking a convoy of the Corps Commander Karachi, and having contacts with terrorist organisations including Jandullah and al Qaeda.

However, later on they were acquitted of all charges by the SHC. Dr Arshad Wahid moved to South Waziristan where he passed away in a drone strike during 2008.

Ajmal Wahid and his younger brother Osama Wahid had also ‘gone missing’, with their family holding security agencies responsible for their disappearance in a petition filed in the SHC requesting their release.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2012.