WASHINGTON – A US court has put on hold the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, the Pakistan-born Canadian who faces charges for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 and is known to be associated with David Headley.
Headley, a US citizen who was born to an American mother and a Pakistani father, was arrested in October 2009 by US authorities and sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Rana, who is now 62 years old, was a childhood friend of Headley.
In a court order dated May 16, Judge Jacqueline Chooljian, US Magistrate Judge of the US District Court Central District of California, had written, “The Court has reviewed and considered all of the documents submitted… the Court makes the findings set forth below, and CERTIFIES to the Secretary of State of the United States the extraditability of Rana on the charged offences that are the subject of the Request.”
However, District Judge Dale S. Fischer of the US District Court in Central California has said in his latest order that Rana’s “ex parte application” seeking a stay on his extradition is granted.