A photograph claiming to show Qasim Majid was taken just weeks ago in the city of Dina, 70 miles from the capital Islamabad.

A man from south Leeds visiting relatives in Pakistan was driving through Dina when he saw Majid, 24, wanted for questioning over the murder of 16-year-old Tyrone Clarke.

The man – who does not want to be identified – said: "I have known 'Q' from growing up in Beeston. I couldn't believe it when I saw him outside a bazaar.

"I was in a car with friends and told them to stop. I just went up to him – and he panicked. He said to me 'I can't believe it'. I admit I was shocked to see him.

"I told him he needed to go back to England (to stand trial] and he replied 'I am just waiting'. I managed to take pictures of him on my mobile phone without him knowing.

"A friend of mine also spoke to him and Q told him he lived round the corner.

"Qasim also claimed that he had contacts in the local police and would know if police in the UK made moves to extradite him.

"I don't think there is any chance of Qasim coming back on his own.

"There has been talk in south Leeds that quite a few friends have been out to Pakistan to see Majid."

Four men were jailed for the murder of Tyrone, who was chased, beaten and fatally stabbed in Beeston, Leeds, in April, 2004.

Leeds Crown Court heard a baying mob cornered Tyrone in Brett Gardens, Beeston, and laid into him with baseball bats, poles and lengths of wood before he was stabbed.

After the trial police said they were seeking a fifth man and named Majid. He is believed to have left the UK immediately after the killing.

Those convicted of murder at Leeds Crown Court in March, 2005, were: Islamur Rahman, 21, Kamer Akram and Anjum Nisa Amin, both 22, and Liaquat Ali, 17, all of Beeston.

They were all jailed for life. Rahman was told he must serve a minimum of 12 years 49 days before being considered for release, Amin must serve a minimum of 11 years and 47 days, Akram 11 years and 47 days and Ali, 17, nine years 46 days

The convictions were upheld in the Court of Appeal but a ruling from an appeal to the House of Lords on 'joint enterprise' cases is expected within weeks.

The man who took the photos of Majid is related to one of those convicted of Tyrone's murder. He added: "It was never proved that any one of them stabbed Tyrone Clarke. It is accepted that they were present that day and were involved – but they didn't stab him.
Seeking

"The whole issue of joint enterprise is now being examined by the House of Lords. We are just hoping that justice will be done and their sentences quashed".

Det Insp Mick McDermott, who worked on the murder inquiry, said today that police would be following up the photo.

He added: "We are still actively seeking to trace and arrest Qasim Majid. This is still very much a live inquiry as was demonstrated that only recently we made an appeal on BBC Crimewatch for information about Majid."

He urged the man who took the photograph to contact police.