MPs urge probe into torture claim

Mr McDonnell says he wants the prime minister to make a statement

MPs are calling for a probe into claims that British intelligence officials "outsourced" the torture of UK citizens to Pakistani security agencies.

Labour's John McDonnell and Tory Andrew Tyrie want the claims looked at by the Intelligence and Security Committee.

The Home Office says MI5 agents "do not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or inhumane or degrading treatment".

But claims of three cases involving UK citizens sparked the MPs' concerns.

Mr McDonnell says a medical student from his Hayes and Harlington constituency claims he was held for two months in 2005 in Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau, opposite the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi.

The government unreservedly condemns the use of torture as a matter of fundamental principle and works hard with its international partners to eradicate this abhorrent practice worldwide Home Office

The man claimed he was beaten, deprived of sleep, threatened with death and watched other inmates being tortured.

He alleges he was quizzed by British officials before being released.

"I've been dealing with my constituent's case since he first went missing in Pakistan," said Mr McDonnell.

"The British and Pakistani authorities denied all knowledge of him being detained. We subsequently discovered he had been detained and tortured and was later interviewed by British intelligence."

He said the man did not want his name released and was "terrified" of the security services.

Interrogation

"I want this issue exposed and then I want a statement from the prime minister on what the government will do to address it," he added.

Tariq Mahmood, a British taxi driver from Sparkbrook, Birmingham, said he was imprisoned and tortured before being released without charge and flown to the UK.

According to the Guardian newspaper, he claims MI5 and the US intelligence services were aware of the abuse.

Author Tahir Shah, from London, says he was interrogated about the 7 July bombings in what he claims was a "fully equipped torture chamber" during 16 days in 2005.

While he does not claim that British officials were involved, he believes it is unlikely they would not have known about it.

'Unacceptable'

Mr McDonnell said: "I believe that there is now sufficient evidence from this and other cases to demonstrate that British officials outsourced the torture of British nationals to a Pakistani intelligence agency."

Mr Tyrie, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on extraordinary rendition, said: "Any torture of British nationals by Pakistani authorities would be utterly unacceptable.

"If credible allegations implicating British officials in such mistreatment have been made then they require investigation.

"The Intelligence and Security Committee appears to be the most suitable body to examine these issues."

A Home Office statement said: "The government unreservedly condemns the use of torture as a matter of fundamental principle and works hard with its international partners to eradicate this abhorrent practice worldwide.

"The security and intelligence agencies do not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture or inhumane or degrading treatment.

"For reasons both ethical and legal, their policy is not to carry out any action which they know would result in torture or inhumane or degrading treatment."

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