Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01ISLAMABAD648
2001-02-06 06:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

UPDATE: PAN AM HIJACKERS

Tags:  PTER EAIR PLO PK 
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O 060623Z FEB 01
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3400
INFO AMCONSUL KARACHI 
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 
AMEMBASSY AMMAN 
AMCONSUL LAHORE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000648 

DEPT FOR SA/PAB, S/CT, DS/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/06/11
TAGS: PTER EAIR PLO PK
SUBJECT: UPDATE: PAN AM HIJACKERS

REFS: 2000 ISLAMABAD 6055 (B) 2000 ISLAMABAD 1120


(U) CLASSIFIED BY MICHELE J. SISON, DEPUTY CHIEF
OF MISSION, FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000648

DEPT FOR SA/PAB, S/CT, DS/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/06/11
TAGS: PTER EAIR PLO PK
SUBJECT: UPDATE: PAN AM HIJACKERS

REFS: 2000 ISLAMABAD 6055 (B) 2000 ISLAMABAD 1120


(U) CLASSIFIED BY MICHELE J. SISON, DEPUTY CHIEF
OF MISSION, FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. ALL FIVE PAN AM 73 HIJACKERS
REMAIN INCARCERATED AT ADIALA PRISON, RAWALPINDI.
A JANUARY 31 LAHORE HIGH COURT (RAWALPINDI BENCH)
DEPORTATION HEARING CONSIDERED THE CASE OF
HIJACKER SULIEMAN AL-TURKI ONLY. ACTION ON AL-
TURKI'S DEPORTATION REMAINS PENDING AS THE LIBYAN
EMBASSY HAS NOT CONFIRMED THAT AL-TURKI IS A
LIBYAN CITIZEN. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THERE WILL
BE FURTHER MOVEMENT ON THIS CASE UNTIL AL-TURKI'S
ATTORNEY FILES ANOTHER PETITION WITH THE COURT.
THE DEPORTATIONS IN QUESTION WOULD BE BACK TO THE
DEFENDANTS' CLAIMED COUNTRY OF ORIGIN -- NOT, AT
THIS POINT, TO THE UNITED STATES TO STAND TRIAL.


2. (C) (SUMMARY, CONTINUED) MEANWHILE, AN
INVESTIGATIVE TEAM FROM FBI'S WASHINGTON FIELD
OFFICE ARRIVED ON JANUARY 30 TO CONTINUING THE
INTERVIEWING OF WITNESSES AND FEDERAL
INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY PERSONNEL WHO PARTICIPATED
IN THE ORIGINAL PAN AM 73 INVESTIGATION. THE
TEAM WILL ALSO FOLLOW UP ON PREVIOUS FBI REQUESTS
FOR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.


3. (C) ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1986, SIX ABU NIDAL
ORGANIZATION (ANO) TERRORISTS HIJACKED PAN AM 73
IN KARACHI. TWENTY-TWO PASSENGERS WERE KILLED
AND 125 WOUNDED IN THE INCIDENT. THE HIJACKERS
RECEIVED THE DEATH PENALTY, WHICH WAS THEN
REDUCED TO LIFE, AND THEN TO FOURTEEN YEARS (NOW
COMPLETED). ONE OF THE HIJACKERS DIED WHILE IN
CUSTODY; THE OTHER FIVE -- SOULIEMAN AL TURKI,
MUSTAFA HASSAN SAEED BOMER, MANSOOR AL-RASHID,
MUHAMMAD ABDUL KHALIL HUSAIN AL-RAHAYAL AND JAMAL
SAEED ABDUL RAHIM AL-FAHID -- REMAIN INCARCERATED
IN ADIALA PRISON IN RAWALPINDI.


4. (C) THE NATIONALITY OF SEVERAL OF THE
HIJACKERS REMAINS IN QUESTION. BOMER HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS A JORDANIAN NATIONAL, AND WE
UNDERSTAND THAT DEPORTATION DISCUSSIONS ARE
UNDERWAY WITH THE GOJ. THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA
HAS NOT YET ACCEPTED AL TURKI'S CLAIM THAT HE IS
A LIBYAN. AL TURKI'S JANUARY 31 LAHORE HIGH
COURT (RAWALPINDI BENCH) DEPORTATION HEARING WAS
THUS STYMIED; WE EXPECT AL TURKI'S LAWYER TO FILE
ANOTHER PETITION FOR RELEASE/DEPORTATION (TIMING
UNKNOWN). THE REMAINING THREE HIJACKERS CLAIM TO
BE PALESTINIAN, A CLAIM THAT THE PALESTINIAN
EMBASSY HAS THUS FAR REPORTEDLY REJECTED.


5. (C) THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN IS AWARE OF
THE USG'S INTEREST IN THE FUTURE PROSECUTION OF
THE FIVE HIJACKERS. WE HAVE RAISED THE ISSUE
WITH INTERIOR MINISTER HAIDER A NUMBER OF TIMES,
AND HE HAS DIRECTED HIS MINISTRY TO ASSIST US
WITH OUR REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE AND
WITNESS ACCESS RELATED TO DEVELOPING THE CASE. IN
ADDITION, AT THE EMBASSY'S REQUEST, INTERIOR
MINISTRY DEPUTY SECRETARY (POLITICAL) HUSSAIN
CHAUDRY BRIEFED US ON FEBRUARY 1 ON THE AL-TURKI
DEPORTATION HEARING (ONE OF CHAUDRY'S OFFICER HAD
BEEN ASSIGNED TO ATTEND THE HEARING).


6. (C) THE JANUARY 31 HEARING HAD BEEN SPURRED
BY A PETITION FILED BY AL TURKI'S ATTORNEY
SEEKING IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM CUSTODY (THE
DEFENDANT HAS NOW SERVED TIME IN EXCESS OF 14
YEARS). THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN'S
REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE COURT THAT THE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WAS WORKING WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA TO ARRANGE FOR SOULIEMAN'S
DEPORTATION. THE GOP REPRESENTATIVE ALSO
INFORMED THE JUDGE THAT CONSULAR ACCESS HAD BEEN
GRANTED TO THE LIBYAN EMBASSY TO MEET WITH THE
DEFENDANT, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA HAD
NOT YET CONFIRMED AL TURKI'S CITIZENSHIP.
ACCORDING TO MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OFFICIALS, THE
JUDGE APPARENTLY DID NOT SPECIFY A TIMEFRAME IN
HIS RULING, BUT INSTRUCTED THE GOVERNMENT OF
PAKISTAN REPRESENTATIVE TO WORK TO EXPEDITE AL
TURKI'S DEPORTATION.


7. (C) THE FBI HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO PROCESS THE
HIJACKERS FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND FINGERPRINTS. THE
GOP HAS COOPERATED IN LOCATING AND ARRANGING
INTERVIEWS OF A NUMBER OF THE GOP WITNESSES. THE
GOP HAS PROVIDED THE FBI WITH A CERTIFIED COPY OF
THE CASE PROPERTY, THE FIRST INFORMATION REPORT
(FIR) PREPARED ON THE CASE, AND AN UNSIGNED COPY
OF A JOINT STATEMENT BY THE HIJACKERS.


8. (C) THE VISITING FBI WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE
TEAM CONTINUES IN ITS EFFORTS TO SECURE (A)
COMPLETE COPIES OF INTERROGATION REPORTS PREPARED
BY THE PAKISTANI INTER-SERVICES INTELLIGENCE
DIRECTORATE (ISID) FOR EACH OF THE FIVE
HIJACKERS; (B) A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE TRIAL
TRANSCRIPT; (C) A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE COURT
RECORD; (D) INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS OF THE FIVE
HIJACKERS; (E) A DUPLICATE VIDEOTAPE TAKEN OF
THE CRIME SCENE; (F) LEGAL COMMENTS MEMORANDUM
DATED 9/6-9/87; AND (G) MEMORANDUM OF LEGAL
ADVISOR JAMSHED HAMID.


9. (C) THE VISITING SPECIAL AGENTS HAVE ARRANGED
A MEETING WITH ADIALA PRISON AUTHORITIES THIS
WEEK TO PURSUE THEIR INVESTIGATION.


MILAM