KARACHI, Jan 25: A Sindh High Court division bench on Thursday sought official comments on the reported handing over of Al Qaeda leader Khalid Mohammad Shaikh and three of his relatives to the United States.

Petitioner Mariam alleged that her brother, Khalid Mohammad Shaikh, son Abdul Karim and sons-in-law Abdul Qadir and Ramzi bin Shibh were taken into custody and handed over to the US authorities.

The Inspector-General of Sindh Police submitted his report saying that the detainees were neither arrested nor detained nor transferred abroad by the provincial police.

The petitioner’s counsel, Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, produced a newspaper clipping quoting US President George Bush as claiming that Khalid, mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, was among the 14 Al Qaeda terrorists transferred to the US custody.

The bench, comprising Justices Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Sain Ali Dino Metlo, asked Additional Advocate-General Dr Qazi Khalid Ali and federal government standing counsel Sofia Shah to explain the official position with regard to the detainees, and adjourned further hearing to a date in office.