KARACHI, April 20: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to the federal and provincial attorneys in a petition seeking the recovery of Khalid Mohammad Shaikh, who is alleged to be a key leader of Al Qaeda.

Ms Maryam filed the petition on March 15 and a federal attorney informed the court that he was required in many cases, including offences under the narcotic substances control ordinance.

The petitioner’s counsel, Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, produced press reports quoting US President George Bush as saying that the Al Qaeda leader was detained at Guantanamo Bay prison.

The lawyer said the detainee had been tortured in custody. He said the press reports belied Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri’s claim that the detainee had not be turned over to the US authorities.

He said if any cases were registered against Khalid in Pakistan, he should have been tried in the country.

He requested the court to direct the interior and foreign ministries to state the correct position. The detainee’s sons-in-law, Ramzi Yusuf and Abdul Qadir, and nephew Abu Muaseb had also been handed over to US authorities. The lawyer maintained that they were all Pakistani nationals and visited Kuwait in connection with family business.