London, Nov 2 (Inditop.com) A convicted rapist escaped from the lavatory of the Pakistani High Commission in London, simultaneously triggering an angry protest from the Pakistani mission and a nationwide hunt for a man described as “very dangerous”.
Imtiaz Hussain, 44, escaped from the building just before he was due to be deported to Pakistan after being jailed for nine years in 2004 for trying to rape two women at knifepoint in the town of Derby.
Hussain, who was taken to the High Commission Friday to help him acquire a new passport ahead of his deportation, asked his escorting security guards if he could go to the toilet, and then escaped through the window.
He was last seen running through nearby Sloane Square, a busy shopping area, police said.
Detective Chief Inspector Brent Lancaster said: “This individual is believed to very dangerous and we need to apprehend him as soon as possible.
“If anyone sees him, please don’t approach him, but call or alert police immediately.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistani High Commission, in a press release issued Sunday, stressed that the rapist had escaped from the custody of British – not Pakistani – security guards.
The High Commission said it came to know about the incident only after his escape “from the custody of British officials” as he was not presented before the High Commission official who conducts face-to-face interviews.
“It is pertinent to mention that any deportation case has to be brought to the High Commission with prior appointment. In this case no prior arrangements were made with the Pakistan High Commission,” the mission said.
“As mentioned in the news reports that he was a dangerous person this fact was known to the agency which was handling his custody. The questions that arise are: why then did they bring him for the interview without prior information in the first place? And why the criminal was inadequately guarded? There are many questions that can be raised surrounding the entire episode.”
The press release said the Pakistani High Commission has taken a “serious note” of the matter and “conveyed its exceptions to the relevant British authorities”.
