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Doctor suspected of Al-Qeda links killed in Pak

Ahmad Javed Khawaja was attacked after he finished his morning prayers at a mosque and was walking to his clinic in Lahore.

Published on: Feb 13, 2006, 11:38:00 IST
None | By , Lahore
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Gunmen on a motorcycle on Monday killed a Pakistani doctor who had been detained three years ago for suspected Al-Qaeda links, police said.

HT Image
HT Image

Ahmad Javed Khawaja was attacked after he finished his morning prayers at a mosque and was walking to his clinic in the eastern city of Lahore, said Mohammed Ali, a police official in Lahore.

The attackers fled and no one has been arrested, Ali said, adding that the shooting's motive was not known.

About 500 people joined a protest that erupted after the shooting. Many chanted, "Death to America!" as they blocked a street and set tires on fire.

In December 2002, Khawaja and several relatives were detained by intelligence agents in Lahore and were later charged with harboring Al-Qaeda suspects.

The doctor said he was questioned by American investigators with the FBI.

Khawaja and his relatives contested the terrorism accusations.

The charges were dropped in April 2003 by an anti-terrorism court when the prosecution failed to provide evidence of his links with the terror network.

The doctor and his Canadian brother were also accused of lesser charges of possessing illegal weapons and resisting arrest.

They were acquitted of those charges and released in June 2003. Khawaja, a gastroenterologist, said he spent 15 years in the United States.

Two of his sons who were detained with him were both American nationals.

After being freed, Khawaja accused the United States of being involved in terrorism.

"They actually want to destroy the power and money of the Muslims. They want to use it for their own interest," he told reporters.

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