Qari Saifullah Akhtar

Qari Saifullah Akhtar (Urdu: قاری سیف اللہ اختر ) is an alleged member of Al-Qaeda currently in Pakistani custody. Akhtar, who is listed as a graduate of the Banuri mosque in Karachi, previously was the leader of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI), a jihadi organization. When HUJI merged with Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM) around 1990 to form Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA), Akhtar acted as deputy to former HUM leader and then amir Maulana Fazalur Rehman Khalil. HUA dissolved back into two separate groups in 1997, allowing Akhtar to become amir of HUJI. [ [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FI30Df05.html Why Amjad Farooqi had to die] , "Asia Times", September 20, 2004] Since 1998 when Osama bin Laden released a fatwa under the banner World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders, segments of HUJI have joined al-Qaeda. Reportedly Akhtar was running a training camp at Rishkhor, Afghanistan before the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and had trained 3,500 persons in conventional and unconventional combat. He disappeared from Afghanistan but was apprehended in August 2004 in the United Arab Emirates. He has since been handed over to Pakistan. [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/08/national/main634627.shtml Al Qaeda Suspected Nabbed] , "CBS News", August 08, 2004]

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court by Akhtar's brother-in-law, Abdur Rehman Mahmood, on October 12, [2004] , challenging Akhtar's arrest and seeking his production in the court. The petitioner also sought a court order to prevent possible deportation of Akhtar to another country. [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_14-10-2004_pg7_6 Qari Saif’s detention challenged in SC] , "Daily Times", October 14, 2004] The petition was thrown out on January 18, 2005. The petitioner was instructed to move the High Court by filing a habeas corpus writ petition. "You first invoke the jurisdiction of a high court and if it gets dismissed there only then you come to the top court," said Justice Falak Sher. "We can’t entertain a direct writ petition at this stage." [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp?page=2005%5C01%5C18%5Cstory_18-1-2005_pg7_5 Petition against Qari Saif’s arrest dismissed] , "Daily Times", January 22, 2005] However, the bench, consisting of Javed Iqbal and Mian Shakirullah Jan, ordered the government to submit comprehensive replies in the cases of several people, including that of Akhtar, who had been arrested on suspicion of terrorism. [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007/04/28/story_28-4-2007_pg1_1 Supreme Court to prepare policy for intelligence agencies’ control] , "Daily Times", April 28, 2007]

On May 21, 2007, Akhtar reached his hometown of Mandi Bahauddin, after reportedly being released by an intelligence agency earlier that morning. The "Daily Times" reported, "He was thrown out of a car in a deserted area near Chakwal." [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C05%5C22%5Cstory_22-5-2007_pg7_57 Harkat chief reaches home] , "Daily Times", May 22, 2007]

According to the "Dawn" newspaper, Akhtar was arrested in Lahore on February 26, 2008 for his alleged involvement in the attempted assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Karachi on October 18, 2007. "He is involved in the blasts in Karsaz. Therefore he has been arrested," Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz told The Associated Press, referring to the area in Karachi where the bombing happened. Mr. Nawaz added that three other men, identified by Akhtar as his sons, were also arrested. [ [http://www.dawn.com/2008/02/27/top8.htm Suspect in Oct 18 bombing arrested] , "Dawn", February 27, 2008]

Akhtar was ordered freed from custody March 26 2008 for lack of evidence. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/26/pakistan.freed.ap/index.html Bhutto bomb suspect freed] , "CNN", March 26, 2008]

References

External links

[http://thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=17449 "Profile of Qari Saifullah Akhtar"]