Arfan Bhatti, Charged with Terrorism in Norway and Now Also in Pakistan, Re-establishes Contact with Lawyers in Norway

Islamist Arfan Bhatti (45) is charged with having planned the terror attack in Oslo on 25 June. Now he is also charged in Pakistan, and he wants to stay there.

It is currently unclear what is the basis for the fresh charges against Bhatti in Pakistan, but he was formally charged and detained there two weeks ago – on 14 April.

This is stated by Bhatti’s defender, John Christian Elden.

It is the first time the defender has made contact with Bhatti since September last year. Bhatti is charged with aggravated terrorism following the terrorist attack on 25 June in Oslo last year.

– What is Bhatti accused of in Pakistan?

– He has not been informed about that yet, nor has he been made aware of the Norwegian charges from the authorities, says Elden.

– What do you know about the case now?

– We are in dialogue with the public prosecutor in Pakistan and Bhatti himself, but unfortunately have not received much help from the Norwegian police or embassy so far, even though we were promised that they would make contact as early as the end of March, says Elden.

When Bhatti was charged with terrorism by the Norwegian police last year, he was also wanted internationally.

At this time, Bhatti was staying in Pakistan. A few days after the charges and wanted information were publicly known, he became completely silent – until he reappears now.

– What does Bhatti himself say?

– I cannot refer from lawyers’ interviews, but he is doing well under the circumstances, but is surprised by the charges in Norway, as he has not been made aware of the basis for this either, and cannot understand the background.

– How does he feel about the return to Norway?

– The extradition process has not started, and he has not been asked how he views this, but has expressed that he wants to stay in Pakistan, says Elden.

Linked to secret terrorist talks

Through several articles, VG has written about a secret intelligence operation where the aim was to deceive Arfan Bhatti, who has been designated as the mastermind of the terrorist attack in Oslo.

In the secret operation, an agent from the National Intelligence Service chatted with what the police believe to be Bhatti – after the attack in Oslo.

The agent played the role of a high-ranking leader in the terrorist organization The Islamic State (IS).

In this chat, Bhatti is said to have pointed out several terrorist targets, in addition to the attack in Oslo, according to VG’s information. Among other things, he talked about the kidnapping of Norwegian journalists who could potentially come to Pakistan to interview him about the Oslo attack.

VG does not know whether the Pakistani authorities are aware of the dialogue and the content linked to Bhatti, or what is the basis for the recent charge in Pakistan.

In the terrorist conversations with the agent, what the police believe to be Bhatti is said to have also written that he worked for the Taliban in Pakistan just over ten years ago.

Elden says Bhatti is not aware of this information:

– He is not familiar with it as he does not read VG in Pakistan, and is also not aware that there is an ongoing investigation against him beyond the fact that he was informed in August that he was wanted in Norway through the police press conference. I cannot discuss this with him, as the police in Norway have sealed the case documents relating to these allegations.

Police prosecutor Ingvild Myrold ​​in the Oslo police district does not want to comment on the case.