Mystery man could be Talib or crook
Published: 24 Feb. 2010, 21:14
The National Police Agency is trying to solve the mystery of a Pakistani man’s real identity - and what he is doing here in Korea.
Anwar ul-Haq, 31, has been detained on charges of falsifying his personal identification as police probe allegations that he carried out work for the Taliban, including spying on U.S. military facilities in Korea.
But even as police interrogated him, the United States showed no interest in the case, and other sources said ul-Haq is merely a petty criminal who liked the pickings in Korea.
Police said ul-Haq first entered Korea under his real name in 2001, but was expelled as an illegal immigrant in June 2003. Two months later, he reentered the country on an official Pakistan passport issued in the name of his older brother, Zia ul-Haq.
When police in 2007 charged him with illegal entry, he maintained that he was Zia ul-Haq and gave police a death certificate issued by the Pakistan government in the name of Anwar ul-Haq. This satisfied police and the investigation was closed.
Within a year, police were back, this time looking at ul-Haq for possible involvement with Halawa, an Islamic organization known for illegal overseas money exchanges. Police found little to support the charges, and again the probe was dropped.
Since last year, however, new evidence has emerged identifying ul-Haq as a terrorist.
A number of Pakistanis arrested on charges of smuggling heavy equipment out of the country for possible use in terrorist attacks identified ul-Haq as an imam working under the Taliban. Other reports claimed that he took photographs of U.S. military bases and instigated Muslim students at his education center in Daegu to wage jihad, or Islamic holy war, against Korea and the U.S. military.
Investigators said several anonymous informants reported that the education center hid a terrorist cell. But police could not confirm the allegations, although their investigation did reveal that ul-Haq had faked his identification.
Now, police are interrogating ul-Haq to confirm both his real identity and his purpose.
Against the claims of terrorism are reports that ul-Haq is simply an unpopular tool exporter. Police said his business often brought ul-Haq up against other Pakistani merchants. “Since their conflicts were severe, those Pakistani merchants may have deliberately sent slanderous reports about ul-Haq,” said one officer on condition of anonymity.
Investigators raided ul-Haq’s house and office last week but found no evidence that he was involved in terrorist plots. And U.S. investigative authorities have given no indication he is wanted for questioning.
“If he was suspected of being a terrorist, the FBI at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul would have requested his identification information or tried to extradite him to the United States,” said a prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office who asked not to be named. “There’s been no sign from United States that it wants to investigate.”
The probe is scheduled to conclude today.
By Kang In-sik [[email protected]]
Anwar ul-Haq, 31, has been detained on charges of falsifying his personal identification as police probe allegations that he carried out work for the Taliban, including spying on U.S. military facilities in Korea.
But even as police interrogated him, the United States showed no interest in the case, and other sources said ul-Haq is merely a petty criminal who liked the pickings in Korea.
Police said ul-Haq first entered Korea under his real name in 2001, but was expelled as an illegal immigrant in June 2003. Two months later, he reentered the country on an official Pakistan passport issued in the name of his older brother, Zia ul-Haq.
When police in 2007 charged him with illegal entry, he maintained that he was Zia ul-Haq and gave police a death certificate issued by the Pakistan government in the name of Anwar ul-Haq. This satisfied police and the investigation was closed.
Within a year, police were back, this time looking at ul-Haq for possible involvement with Halawa, an Islamic organization known for illegal overseas money exchanges. Police found little to support the charges, and again the probe was dropped.
Since last year, however, new evidence has emerged identifying ul-Haq as a terrorist.
A number of Pakistanis arrested on charges of smuggling heavy equipment out of the country for possible use in terrorist attacks identified ul-Haq as an imam working under the Taliban. Other reports claimed that he took photographs of U.S. military bases and instigated Muslim students at his education center in Daegu to wage jihad, or Islamic holy war, against Korea and the U.S. military.
Investigators said several anonymous informants reported that the education center hid a terrorist cell. But police could not confirm the allegations, although their investigation did reveal that ul-Haq had faked his identification.
Now, police are interrogating ul-Haq to confirm both his real identity and his purpose.
Against the claims of terrorism are reports that ul-Haq is simply an unpopular tool exporter. Police said his business often brought ul-Haq up against other Pakistani merchants. “Since their conflicts were severe, those Pakistani merchants may have deliberately sent slanderous reports about ul-Haq,” said one officer on condition of anonymity.
Investigators raided ul-Haq’s house and office last week but found no evidence that he was involved in terrorist plots. And U.S. investigative authorities have given no indication he is wanted for questioning.
“If he was suspected of being a terrorist, the FBI at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul would have requested his identification information or tried to extradite him to the United States,” said a prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office who asked not to be named. “There’s been no sign from United States that it wants to investigate.”
The probe is scheduled to conclude today.
By Kang In-sik [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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