Gatwick airport incident: British envoy summoned to foreign ministry

Pakistani authorities on Friday summoned to the Foreign Ministry the British envoy stationed in Islamabad to explain why the relatives and associates of a top politician were interrogated and deported from London reportedly on terror suspicion.

A statement said the government had conveyed “serious concern and consternation” over the unpleasant incident. Britain’s anti-terror police on Tuesday detained overnight and then bundled back to the home country the younger brother of Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain along with three family members and two friends.

Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, a former member of the National Assembly himself, was travelling to London from Barcelona, Spain. Spanish authorities last week arrested a dozen Pakistanis for allegedly planning suicide bombings inside the European state.

“The acting British High Commissioner conveyed sincere regrets of his government and explained that the incident took place because of a misunderstanding,” the statement added.

“The British envoy was asked to thoroughly investigate the matter and provide a report,” the Foreign Ministry said a day after media unearthed the “humiliating” episode. The acting Foreign Secretary asked the British envoy to explain the circumstances, which led to this ugly incident, and ensure that such things were not repeated, the statement added. He added that a senior official of the High Commission had visited the family to personally convey their regrets on this incident.