Govt labels Col (retd) Inamur Rahim a spy: SC suspends release order of detained lawyer

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has suspended the Lahore High Court orders of releasing Colonel (retd) Inamur Rahim, a lawyer, saying that there was a lot of evidence against him.

The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench on January 9 had ordered the immediate release of Col (retd) Inamur Rahim and termed his detention by the defence ministry, as illegal. The attorney general told the Supreme Court that the lawyer was a spy and he was being investigated. He accused Col (retd) Inamur Rahim of leaking information about sensitive organisations. He said the accused was running a network and many people have already been arrested. The attorney general said that the suspect cannot even meet his family during the investigation period.

The apex court said on Tuesday that the lawyer will be provided legal help once the investigation against him has been completed. Tariq Asad, who is defending the advocate, has asked for more time to submit a written reply in the case. The case was adjourned till next week.

The lawyer was picked up from his house in Rawalpindi’s Askari 14 on December 17. The lawyer's son had filed a case in the high court. On January 2, the Defence Ministry told the court that they have detained him under the Pakistan Army Act and he is being investigated for violating the Official Secrets Act, which deals with espionage activities.