The government of Pakistan has said two Pakistanis– who were arrested in Kathmandu last week in connection with a five-year-old case– had no linkage with the recent Mumbai blasts.

The RDX explosives siezed by police in 2001 (file photo). nepalnews.com/rh

The RDX explosives siezed by police in 2001 (file photo). nepalnews.com/rh
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Foreign Office of Pakistan quoted the employers of two persons– Gulam Hussein Chima and Atta Muhaddin Siddiqi who were arrested in Kathmandu on Wednesday—as saying that they had nothing to do with the 2001 case and had visited Nepal several times for recovery of outstanding payments to the company by the Department of Roads, Nepal.

M/S Sachal Engineering Works, employers of Chima and Siddiqui, approached the Foreign Office requesting help and gave further details, the statement by Pakistani Foreign Office, faxed to Nepali media by the Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu, said.

“The spokesperson stated that the Pakistani Mission in Kathmandu was instructed to immediately get in touch with the Nepal’s Foreign Office to ascertain the facts,” the statement said, adding, “Our Mission was later contacted by the Nepal Police authorities who confirmed that the arrest of two Pakistanis was in connection with an old case dating back to 2001 and that no linkage had been established with the Mumbai blasts. The Foreign Office also called the Nepalese Charge d’ Affaires to make a demarche asking for consular access and release of the persons.”

The Foreign Office of Pakistan further said Chima and Siddiqui had gone to Nepal on July 8 for recovering their money seeking prior appointment with the concerned Nepali Department and were in Nepal when they were detained. “We are in touch with the Nepalese side through diplomatic channels in this matter,” the statement added.

Nepal Police is currently interrogating Chima and Sidiqui in connection with the seizure of 16 kg of RDX explosives in Kathmandu five years ago.