Pak files chargesheet against American Jihadis

The Pakistani police on Tuesday submitted a chargesheet against five American Muslims who were arrested last year for alleged terror links and plotting attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The challan or chargesheet was submitted in the anti-terrorism court, following which Special Judge Mian Anwar Nazir adjourned the case till March 10. The chargesheet accused the Americans of plotting terrorist attacks, criminal conspiracy and involvement in fund-raising for terrorist acts. The Americans are expected to be formally indicted at the next hearing. Ramy Zamzam, 22, Waqar Hussain Khan, 22, Ahmed Abdullah Minni, 20, Iman Hasan Yemer, 17 and Omar Farooq, 24, were arrested from Sargodha in Punjab province in December last year.

Farooq told the court during today's hearing that the arrested men were tortured in jail by the police to 'confess' that they had links with terrorist organisations.

Khawaja Khalid, a lawyer for the Americans, said, "We are not satisfied with the medical facilities provided to them and want to consult American doctors for treatment."

He said the Americans had submitted an application in a local police station for registration of a case regarding their 'illegal detention' and 'oppression'.

However, the police have said the Americans wanted to go to Afghanistan to join the Taliban to fight Afghan and Western forces.

The police also claimed that certain emails showed that the Americans contacted Pakistani militants, who had planned to use them to carry out attacks within the country. They could face life imprisonment if convicted.