MI5 accused of 'outsourcing torture' of British citizens to Pakistani security agencies

Labour MP John McDonnell and Tory MP Andrew Tyrie have called for the claims of abuse to be examined by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), which oversees MI5 and MI6.

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

But accounts of three UK citizens who say they were detained and tortured in Pakistan with the knowledge of British officials have prompted the calls for an investigation.

Questions: MI5's headquarters in London. MPs are demanding an inquiry into allegations the intelligence agency sanctioned abuse of British citizens by Pakistani security forces

Mr McDonnell said a medical student from his constituency alleges he was held for two months in 2005 in the offices of Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau opposite the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi.

The man described how he was beaten, deprived of sleep, threatened with execution and saw other inmates being tortured. He said he was questioned by British officials before being released.

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

'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 added the man had asked not to be identified and was 'terrified' of the security services.

'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 said.

Labour MP John McDonnell, above, and Tory MP Andrew Tyrie want the claims of abuse to be examined by the Intelligence and Security Committee

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

He alleges MI5 and the U.S. intelligence services were aware of the abuse, according to the Guardian.

Tahir Shah, an author from London, claims to have been interrogated about the July 7 bombings in what he says was a 'fully-equipped torture chamber' during 16 days in 2005.

He does not allege that British officials were involved, but believes it is unlikely they would not have been informed.

Mr McDonnell said of his constituent's claims: '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, added: '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 ISC appears to be the most suitable body to examine these issues.'

A statement issued by the Home Office 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.'