MPs call for investigation into abuse allegations
MPs have called for an investigation to be launched into allegations that British intelligence services have “outsourced” the torture of British citizens to Pakistani security agencies.
Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, John McDonnell, and Conservative MP for Chichester, Andrew Tyrie, claim the allegations should be investigated by the intelligence and security committee (ISC), the body which oversees MI5 and MI6.
The Guardian newspaper quotes Mr McDonnell as claiming he wants to know whether British officials planned the abuse of one of his constituents.
The medical student in question claims he was abducted at gunpoint in August 2005 and held for two months in the offices of Pakistan’s intelligence bureau next to the British deputy high commission in Karachi.
He claims he was questioned over the July 7th suicide bombings on the London transport network and later tortured by Pakistani agents.
Two other men have made similar allegations.
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.
“This warrants the fullest investigation by the ISC, which is best placed initially to undertake such an inquiry. I would expect the government to cooperate fully with such an investigation and eventually for the prime minister to make a statement to parliament on how this practice has been allowed to develop and what action is to be taken.”
A Home Office spokesperson responded by saying: “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 inhuman or degrading treatment.
“The ISC gave the security service a clean bill of health in its 2005 report on torture. When security service personnel had come across instances when poor treatment of detainees was suspected, the report commended that security service officers notified the detaining authorities immediately and this was followed up with an official complaint from London.”
