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Pakistan frees 'al-Qaeda suspect' | Pakistan frees 'al-Qaeda suspect' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Pakistani computer expert alleged to have had links with al-Qaeda has been released without charge after three years in custody. | |
Mohammad Naeem Noor Khan, 25, has been reunited with his family in the city of Karachi, officials and his lawyer said. | |
Mr Khan was accused of acting as a link between al-Qaeda leaders and militants. | |
His detention led to the arrest of a suspect in the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa, and information on terror plots in the UK and US. | His detention led to the arrest of a suspect in the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa, and information on terror plots in the UK and US. |
Deputy attorney general Naheeda Mehboob Ilahi announced his release in a Supreme Court hearing, but gave no further details. | |
Never charged | |
Mr Khan's lawyer, Babar Awan, confirmed that his client was back with his family. | |
He noted that Mr Khan had been held without charge and had never appeared in court. | |
Security sources told the BBC that Mr Khan had been quietly released several weeks ago and that his home in Karachi was under surveillance. | |
The Supreme Court has been pressing the government for information about hundreds of people whose relatives say were picked up by intelligence agents in recent years. | |
Mr Khan was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore in July 2004. | |
Pakistani investigators said Mr Khan had invented secret codes, which enabled al-Qaeda operatives to send encrypted emails and messages via the internet. | Pakistani investigators said Mr Khan had invented secret codes, which enabled al-Qaeda operatives to send encrypted emails and messages via the internet. |
Shortly after his arrest, police said a search of his computer files and email records revealed an active global al-Qaeda network, which was planning attacks in Britain, Pakistan and the US. | Shortly after his arrest, police said a search of his computer files and email records revealed an active global al-Qaeda network, which was planning attacks in Britain, Pakistan and the US. |