KARACHI: A judge at a Karachi court has asked police to file formal charges against an FBI agent arrested from the airport after allegedly carrying ammunition and three knives onto an airplane.

FBI agent Joel Cox is free on Rs1 million ($9,800) bail.

Police investigator Khalid Mahmood said Cox appeared Saturday before judicial magistrate Mohammed Ali Memon. Mahmood said police told the judge they needed more time to file formal charges.

Cox is expected back in court May 19, the deadline given by the judge to the police for submitting the challan for the case.

Editorial: FBI agent's arrest

Cox arrived in Karachi on May 1 and was detained Monday after officials found him with the ammunition, knives and electronic devices as he was preparing to board a flight to Islamabad.

Mahmood said the FBI agent's passport was with police, although no court has issued an order to stop him from traveling abroad.