Terrorist To Be Deported

SAN FRANCISCO — An Islamic religious leader and his son, who were arrested during the investigation of possible terrorist activity in Lodi, Calif., agreed Friday to be deported in exchange for the government dropping charges that the two men misrepresented themselves when entering the country.

Imam Mohammad Adil Khan, 47, and his son Mohammad Hassan Adil, 19, conceded in federal Immigration Court that they overstayed their religious worker visas. They will probably be sent back to Pakistan within two weeks, said their attorney, Saad Ahmad, after the brief afternoon proceeding.

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"If my clients were dangerous, why would they be allowed to leave voluntarily?" he asked, adding that he did not expect the government to press criminal charges against the two men, who will remain in custody until they return to Pakistan. "If had evidence, they'd already be charged."

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In a hearing in Sacramento on Friday, attorneys for the Hayats pushed for an early trial date under the federal Speedy Trial Act. Government attorneys, however, asked for a delay, saying the case was extremely complicated and involved classified documents affecting national security, including at least one that they said was uncovered in a search of the Hayats' Lodi home. The government attorneys did not describe the nature of the document.