Pakistan today cleared the way for the handover of Rashid Rauf, the Briton alleged to have masterminded the plot to blow up trans-Atlantic passenger planes, after a surprise move by a judge to drop terror charges against him.

British officials have been trying to extradite the 25-year-old from Birmingham for five months.

The dramatic ruling by a court in Rawalpindi is being seen as part of an agreement to speed up his return to the UK where Scotland Yard detectives want to question Mr Rauf about the Heathrow plot and his possible links to the 7/7 suicide bombers in London.

British police have not been allowed to talk to him since he was seized by Pakistani agents in August.

His detention triggered a series of arrests across the UK and forced ministers to go public on claims that British-born terrorists were about to detonate liquid explosives on planes flying from Heathrow to the US.

Thousands of passengers were left stranded at British airports and flights grounded. Pakistan officials named Mr Rauf as the ring leader and claimed his arrest led to them uncovering the Heathrow plot.

Eleven men, most of Pakistani origin, have been charged in the UK with conspiracy to murder and preparing an act of terrorism.

Mr Rauf has always denied any links with terrorism but the judge ruled that he must still face trial next week on charges of carrying fake identity documents.

Pakistani officials told The Times that while there is no extradition treaty with the UK they are prepared to return Mr Rauf if the British authorities want to question him.

The official also said they have been asked by Britain to reveal no more details about their investigations into Mr Rauf.

British police have already said they want to interview him about the murder of his uncle, Mohammad Saeed, 54, who was stabbed close to his home in Alum Rock, Birmingham in 2002.

Mr Rauf, who has dual nationality, is reported to have fled to Pakistan shortly afterwards.

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