Islamabad, 18 Dec. (AKI/DAWN) - The police in Pakistan have launched a nationwide manhunt for Rashid Rauf, the Pakistani-British man suspected of involvement in an al Qaeda plot to blow up US-bound airliners, after he escaped from police custody on Saturday.

Rauf escaped from custody in the capital Islamabad. He got away after police let his uncle drive him back to jail following a court appearance, a security official said on Monday.

Rauf, a British national of Pakistan origin wanted for an alleged plan to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners, slipped away in unclear circumstances on Saturday after appearing in a court.

The latest details of his escape will likely come as further embarrassment for the government, which was considering a British request for Rauf’s extradition in an unrelated 2002 murder case.

The senior security official said Rauf’s uncle, Mohammad Rafiq, had convinced the two police escorts to make the drive back to jail in Rafiq’s more comfortable van -- instead of in a police vehicle.

The official said that on the way to jail in Rawalpindi, Rauf asked for permission to stop at a fast-food restaurant -- where the uncle bought a meal for all of them.

Then Rauf asked to visit a mosque for prayers, which was also allowed.

While the prayer service was going on Rauf and his uncle disappeared.

“Rauf’s uncle, who helped him escape from custody, has been arrested and is under interrogation,” the official said.

Rauf’s lawyer said on Monday another of his uncles had been arrested.

“I spoke to his family and they said two of his uncles have been arrested and his house in Bahawalpur was raided,” Hashmat Habib said.

The superintendent of the jail where Rauf was being held said the police escorts may have even unlocked his handcuffs when he went to pray.

“It is said that he asked permission to offer prayers and the two police officials who were escorting him allowed this,” said Mohsin Rafiq, superintendent of Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.

“It seems his handcuffs would have been removed to let him say his prayers,” Rafiq said. “It is sheer police negligence.” The two police escorts have also been detained for questioning.

Arrested in Pakistan in August last year, Rauf was identified by Pakistani officials as a key figure in a plot to carry out suicide bombings on airliners travelling from London to the United States.

But his case has run into a legal quagmire and is being dealt with by higher and lower courts simultaneously.

Rauf had left Britain and travelled to Pakistan in 2002 after the murder in Britain of an uncle.

Britain had sought his extradition in connection with an investigation into the murder. Pakistan had said it was considering the request.

An anti-terrorism court dropped terrorism charges against Rauf in December last year, citing a lack of evidence, and referred lesser charges, including the possession of explosives, to the civil court.

But the Lahore High Court, acting on a plea from the government, later suspended the trail in a move aimed at getting the case referred back to the anti-terrorism court.

A heavy police contingent raided the home of Rashid Rauf in Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday night..

The police interogated Rashid’s brother, Umair, and his sister for about an hour. According to Umair, the police officials asked questions about his brother's whereabouts.

Police went on high alert after Rashid’s escape from police custody, setting set up an improvised camp near his home and questioning all visitors.