LONDON, Nov 24 (APP)- The UK-based Association of Pakistani Lawyers (APL) has termed the report of Lord Carlyle, independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, as a step in right direction.‘We welcome Lord Carlyle’s recommendation for bail during first 28 days of allowed time frame before charge which  will facilitate an opportunity to separate the chaff from grain,’ said APL Chair Amjad Malik who added that the Greater Manchester Police needs to go through requisite training handling such cases.

In April this year, British anti-terrorism police in north west arrested 12 persons including 10 Pakistani students as a terror suspects. Though all alleged charges were dropped against them, they were handed over to the UK Border Agency for deportation.

When the court rejected their bail applications, the students, belonging to NWFP, decided to return home on their own volition but on the condition that the British authorities dropped deportation charges.

Malik said in his report Lord Carlyle emphasised on police training and reference to specialist advice by police and taking into confidence local councillors at the time of arrest to calm community reaction which is welcomed but he has not heeded to the demands of some for a ‘public enquiry’  into this saga so more could have been suggested to ease the sufferings of those who were subject to media frenzy and lost their careers, liberty, livelihood and study opportunity.

On 29 May 2009, Lord Alex Carlyle  met three Pakistani students Abdul Wahab Khan, Shoaib Khan and Tariq Ur Rehman who at the time were all considered a national security threat by British Home Secretary.  All were in  appeal  before Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

Malik said he is of the view that pre arrest work needs to be enhanced and intercepted evidence needs to be presented in the Crown Court and more convictions needs to be secured on terror suspects rather than mere arrests turning into hoax after executive claims of intercepting big plots of UK based terror cell(s).

He also highlighted the legal lacuna that all detained under terrorism legislation  must be afforded an opportunity to make a bail application after 7 days of their arrest.