New York: A Pakistani man, who was arrested in Manhattan four months ago during an ongoing investigation of al-Qaida, has been formally charged by Federal prosecutors with conspiracy to provide support and resources to an associate of the international terrorist outfit.

Uzair Paracha, 23, made brief appearance in the US District Court where more than a dozen of his relatives were present and his bail application is expected to come up for hearing next week. Assistant United States Attorney Karl Metzner told the court that the prosecution is seeking detention because of the risk of flight and danger to the community.

Prosecutors said in a criminal complaint that he agreed to help an al-Qaida associate obtain documents that would let him enter the US and help him obtain legal immigration status.

If convicted on the charges, he could get up to 15 years in jail and fined up 250,000 dollars. But his lawyer Anthony Ricco was quoted as saying that his client would plead not guilty to the charges.

Reports have suggested that his father, Saifullah Paracha, was arrested in Pakistan and has been moved possibly to Afghanistan for interrogation.

The prosecutors did not identify the operative but said the conspiracy was hatched in Karachi. The operative was in the US earlier and the scheme was aimed at enabling him to re-enter the country.

PTI