Bermuda after becoming embroiled in controversy.

Thirty-two-year-old Mohammad Samma and Asiz Maan, 21, flew to Gatwick, London, on Thursday evening.

But they failed to keep a promise to telephone family and friends once they cleared immigration in London.

And it is believed they did not catch their connecting flight as they made their way home to Karachi, Pakistan.

Their friends are now hoping the pair will be able to fly direct from Heathrow, London, to Karachi using Pakistan International Airlines.

Among those waiting for a phone call from the pair were their Pakistani friends 27-year-old Tahir Choudry and Kashif Ahmad, 23.

The four businessmen have been at the centre of controversy since their claims that they were locked up in Bermuda, strip searched and accused of being terrorists.

They claimed they had been on a vacation.

Government, Bermuda Police and local Immigration officials say the four were detained as illegal immigrants, their Island visas having expired.

The men, who arrived in Bermuda on July 5, were later released on Police bail.

"We don't really know what has happened to our two friends,'' said Mr.

Choudry last night from his Pembroke guest house.

Mr. Choudry said Bermudian Immigration officials had informed him the pair were unable to board their connecting Ukraine International Airline flight.

"We do not know the reasons why.'' Mr. Choudry, however, said he had heard his friends may catch a plane to Karachi, scheduled to leave Heathrow at 9.05 p.m. last night Bermuda time.

"We are still concerned they may have been arrested in London.

"They had promised to ring us, as well as relatives in the US and Pakistan.

Nobody has heard from them.'' IMMIGRATION IMM