Sky News : 'High Risk' Pakistani Students Refused Bail

'High Risk' Pakistani Students Refused Bail

Tom Rayner, home affairs producer | July 29, 2009

Seven Pakistani students who "pose a high risk" to UK national security have been refused bail while they await deportation hearings next year.

The men were arrested during anti-terror raids as part of Operation Pathway, which took place across the North West of England in April.

The operation had to be brought forward when Britain's then anti-terrorism chief Bob Quick was photographed carrying clearly visible secret papers relating to the raids.

None of the men has been charged with terror offences, due to insufficient evidence.

Lawyers representing them argued it was unacceptable to remand them in custody while they awaited an appeal next spring, which will consider whether they can be deported to Pakistan.

But Mr Justice Mitting has delivered the judgement of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission which ruled in favour of the Government, agreeing that bail should not be granted.

Anonymity restrictions have been lifted in the cases of Ahmed Faraz Khan, Mohammed Ramsen, Abdul Wahab Khan and Shoaib Khan.

Three other men cannot be identified.

A Home Office spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying: "Protecting the public is the Government's top priority and we argued that this is best served by not granting these men bail while we seek their deportation on national security grounds."

Earlier this month it was revealed that two of the 11 men arrested in the raids across the North West were no longer considered a security risk.

Sultan Sher and Janus Khan, who have been bailed, now face deportation on the grounds of "visa irregularities".