Man in court for murder plot

A MAN accused of plotting to kill an exiled Pakistani political blogger appeared in a UK court on Monday (19).

Muhammad Gohir Khan, 31, was charged last month with conspiracy to murder Ahmad Waqass Goraya, one of five activists who vanished in Pakistan in January 2017.

Goraya was freed nearly a month after his abduction, along with at least three others. He swiftly fled back to the Netherlands, where he has lived for the past decade.

Khan, who lives in east London, appeared at the Old Bailey court by video link from custody for a preliminary hearing.

A plea hearing has been set for October 29 and a trial scheduled for January. He was remanded back into custody.

Khan was charged after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command unit. He previously appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on June 29, a Dawn report said, citing sources.

Goraya was allegedly attacked outside his home in Rotterdam, prompting the Reporters Without Borders group to call on the Dutch authorities to protect the blogger.

However, Goraya said Khan’s arrest was linked to another incident on February 12, when the Dutch police informed him that his life was in danger. He was moved from his home to a secure place, the report said.

“Someone had tweeted a picture of the inside of my house,” Goraya said. “I had shown that photo to the police which prompted an investigation.”

He said British police had visited him in the Netherlands in order to record his statement.

Goraya, who like other activists, criticised religious extremism and the military establishment in Pakistan, has accused the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency of threatening his life.

No group claimed responsibility for his abduction, and Pakistan’s government and military have denied involvement.