Police seize arms & equip of US Embassy

By: Kashif Abbasi | Published: June 06, 2010

ISLAMABAD – Suspicious luggage including bulletproof jackets, helmets and weapons belonging to the US Embassy was seized by police here, sources said Saturday. According to details, officials of Islamabad police intercepted a suspicious vehicle Shezore (J 9573) at the Zero Point picket.
During the checking, it transpired that two persons namely Noushad and Lal Badshah were carrying cargo items containing M-16, 35 magazines; 9 mm, 13 magazines, several pistol pouches, compass, radio sets, maps, knives, and other army items.
On this, the police arrested the two carriers and shifted them to Margalla Police Station for investigation.
Sources close to the investigation disclosed that the local carriers were transporting these weapons to the US Embassy.
The sources informed TheNation that the vehicle was seized in the wee hours of Saturday.
During the primarily investigation, the accused informed the police that they have nothing to do with these weapons. “ The US Embassy have just hired our service to transport this luggage,” the police quoted them as having said this.
During the visit this scribe to the police station, it was observed that a number of officials of US Embassy tried their level best for the release of the weapons, however, the police refused to do it.
According to the sources, the accused were taking the material of one Gustovo Ritschl, who is working for the US army, however, they were not having any permission from the authorities of the US Embassy.
While sharing the details of the recovered items, the police sources said that besides other items they also recovered hundreds of pouches of different weapons, Body Armour, CDs, cell phones and sunglasses.
When contacted Spokesman for the US Embassy Richard neither confirmed nor denied the incident saying he has no information about the vehicle.
The police have register the case (Fir no 305/10) under section 13-20-65 for illegal possession of weapons.
When contacted, the SHO Margalla said that an official of the US Embassy contacted him for the release of the luggage, but he didn’t show any permission letter that’s why their luggage is not being released.
This is the third FIR being registered against the US embassy personnel in the space of as many days.

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