Terror accused faces deportation

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UK authorities have been seeking to extradite Rashid Rauf, a British Muslim of Pakistani origin, in connection with an April 2002 murder investigated by West Midlands Police, separate from the alleged terrorism plot.

On Thursday, an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi ordered that Rauf be released after the prosecution withdrew the case against him, his lawyer Hashmat Habib said.

Mr Habib said Rauf was now likely to be deported to Britain.

He said that despite the court order, Rauf was still being held at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi ahead of the likely transfer to Britain.

He had filed a petition with a higher court seeking an order to block the deportation.

It is understood the case withdrawn on Thursday related to domestic charges in Pakistan, not British terrorism charges in connection with the alleged transatlantic plot.

The Crown Prosecution Service, who requested Rauf's extradition, said the process was "ongoing" and it had not been informed by lawyers that it had been approved.

Pakistani police arrested Rauf in August 2006 following a tip-off from British counterparts, who have described him as a key suspect in the alleged terror plot.

His arrest sparked a series of raids in the UK and the tightening of hand baggage restrictions on flights. Fifteen people have been charged with terrorism offences in connection with the alleged plot.