Pakistan court hears al-Qaeda challenge

A court in Pakistan has been hearing testimony from five Arab nationals who are challenging their detention by the authorities on suspicion of being al-Qaeda militants.

The Peshawar High Court heard that the five men were working for the Kuwaiti non-governmental organisation, Revival of Islamic Heritage Society.

They are challenging the legality of their arrests, saying their continued detention is unjust and without reason.

The men were arrested by Pakistani security forces, in the recent series of arrests of al-Qaeda suspects across the country.

The court has given the Ministry of Defence, the intelligence agency ISI and the police one week to reply to the allegations.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service