Special report: Pakistani Situation    

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani interior ministry has issued a directive to form a three-member committee to probe the escaping of Rashid Rauf, a British national suspected to plan attacks on some transatlantic flights, according to local press reports Sunday.

    The private NNI news agency reported that the committee, headed by Additional Interior Secretary Imtiaz Qazi and comprising Assistant Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Yasin Mirza and Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Aamir Ahamd Khan, was obliged to present its report after two days to the interior ministry.

    Caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz has issued the directive for constituting the committee to probe the case and also issued directives for prompt efforts to re-arrest the accused Rauf.

    Local press reports said that Rauf was brought Saturday to the Islamabad district court from the Adiala Jail in nearby Rawalpindiat about 13:30 local time (GMT 0830). But he escaped from the court premises.

    Two police officials have been arrested on suspicion of helping the accused flee.

    Rauf, who also has a Pakistani passport, was arrested by Pakistani intelligence agents in August 2006 on a tip from their British counterparts.

    Rauf was arrested and charged in Pakistan with possessing chemicals that could be used in making explosives and with carrying forged travel documents.

    The prosecution later withdrew the case against him and held him accountable only for possessing bomb-making materials and living in Pakistan without valid documents.

    After that, a higher court, acting on an appeal by the Pakistani authorities, suspended the anti-terrorism court's ruling until Jan. 15, according to the press reports.

    A judge then extended his detention until Jan. 19.

    Rauf has remained in jail awaiting a decision on a British extradition request. He arrived in Pakistan soon after his uncle was stabbed to death in 2002, and the British authorities have asked Pakistan to extradite Rauf in connection with the murder inquiry.

    His lawyer, Hashmat Habib, has sought to block the move, saying that the two countries did not have an extradition treaty and thatRauf had already been found innocent of involvement in terrorism.

    Habib said Saturday that his client had been brought to court in connection with the extradition proceedings, but he did not know how Rauf had escaped.