POLICE FIRED FOR NEGLIGENCE IN RAUF CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000290 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018 TAGS: PGOV PK PREL PTER SUBJECT: POLICE FIRED FOR NEGLIGENCE IN RAUF CASE Classified By: CDA Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On 17 January, the government of Pakistan fired nine police officers for negligence leading to al-Qaida operative Rashid Rauf's escape from police custody in December 2007 in Islamabad. A committee formed by the Ministry of Interior determined Rauf escaped due to police negligence and not connivance, and the committee indicates it intends to bring disciplinary action against others found to be remiss in the case. While such disciplinary action is welcomed, the government does not know Rauf's current location. End summary. ¶2. (U) The Senior Superintendent of Police (SPP) Syed Kalim Imam fired January 17 five Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI), one head constable, and three constables for negligence resulting in Rashid Rauf's December 15, 2007 escape from custody. The Pakistani government detained Rauf in August 2006 in connection with an al-Qaida plot to blow-up trans-Atlantic airliners departing from the UK, but later dropped these terrorism-related charges. The government continued to hold Rauf, however, on lesser explosives and forgery related charges and on an extradition request from the British government. London hoped to extradite Rauf for the 2002 killing of his uncle in Birmingham and to question him regarding his role in the 2006 airline bomb plot. ¶3. (C) Rauf's December 2007 escape from Pakistani police custody sparked a flurry of speculation and farcical news reports. According to most Pakistani press accounts, police allowed Rauf's uncle to transport him from the courtroom to the jail following an extradition hearing in his personal van rather than in a police vehicle. While en route to the prison, the uncle also convinced the constables to stop and eat at a fast-food restaurant, and later to pray at a mosque. Rauf and his uncle then escaped during the prayer service. ¶4. (C) Ministry of Interior representatives last week briefed the British High Commission on their on-going investigation into Rauf's escape. An Embassy contact at the British High Commission said an investigatory committee formed by the Interior Ministry found that police acted negligently, but did not connive with Rauf to aid his escape. The Interior Ministry plans to continue their investigation and promised to take disciplinary action against anyone found to be remiss. The Ministry also told the British they have no leads on Rauf's current whereabouts, and do not know if he is still in Pakistan. BODDE