A Pakistani court rejected the bail plea

A Pakistani court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of five American Muslims facing trial for planning terror attacks in the country and neighbouring Afghanistan.

Ramy Zamzam, 22, Waqar Hussain Khan, 22, Ahmed Abdullah Minni, 20, Iman Hasan Yemer, 17 and Omar Farooq, 24, were arrested at Sargodha in Punjab province in December last year.

A panel of defence lawyers asked the
anti-terrorism court in Sargodha to grant the five youths bail as they were "innocent and had not committed any crime".

"All charges framed against the five boys are based on assumptions," said Tariq
Asad, the lawyer who led the panel.

But, the court rejected their bail plea. the police has submitted a chargesheet that accuses the youth of violating several sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Pakistan Penal Code by allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy against the state and plotting terror attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The trial is yet to begin. Khalid Khwaja, a former intelligence official who is
spearheading efforts to defend the Americans, said that he would now approach the Lahore High Court to seek bail for them. He said that despite a court order, the Americans were not being provided medical treatment and reading material like newspapers and books.

According to a joint investigation team of law enforcement officials, the five youths were not happy with US government policies in the Muslim world, especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.

They also developed contacts with an Arab named Saifullah, who is believed to be an Al Qaida operative in Pakistan.

"Saifullah had gone to the US and met them in Virginia and ensured that he would help them fulfil their desire to join hands with anti-US forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan. After arriving in Pakistan, they were to meet him in Mianwali on December 9 from where they were to go Hangu and Kohat to meet some Al-Qaeda people before leaving for their final destination (Afghanistan)," the joint investigation team said in its report.

"In Pakistan they were to target some important installations on the direction of their (contacts). They also had contacted someone in Dubai who is believed to be part of the Al Qaida network," the report said.

The five youths have claimed on several occasions that they were tortured by
Pakistani and US operatives but these allegations have been denied by Pakistani authorities.

- Farook .