ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has begun extradition proceedings for Rashid Rauf, a suspect in a terrorist plot to blow up US-bound passenger planes in Britain, a senior official said on Thursday. The arrest by Pakistan of British national Rauf in August 2006 sparked a worldwide security alert and arrests in Britain.“We have started the legal proceedings today for the extradition of Rashid Rauf. He is wanted by the British government,” Tariq Pervaz, director general of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, told AFP. “The proceedings will take a week to 10 days,” Pervaz said. “The extradition will be decided on by a court of law after the completion of the formalities.”
PakistanÂ’s outgoing cabinet had earlier Thursday ratified an agreement on the transfer of prisoners between Pakistan and Britain, a statement from Prime Minister Shaukat AzizÂ’s office said.
In April, the Pakistani foreign ministry denied reports that Rauf would be extradited to Britain in exchange for