The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended Lahore High Court (LHC) order to release Col Inam Ul Rahiem (retd) after the Attorney General for Pakistan revealed that he has links with spy network.
Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf of the LHC Rawalpindi bench on January 9 declared the detention of Inam illegal and ordered his immediate release. "The detention of Inam Ul Rahiem, advocate, with the army authorities is illegal and unlawful. He shall be released forthwith," said the order.
The apex court on January 13 (Monday) hearing the appeal of the federation had twice ordered to produce Inam before the court.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam hearing a joint appeal of Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior against the LHC order summoned the record of the case from Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench.
AGP Anwar Mansoor Khan, in compliance with court's order submitted a report about Inam in a sealed envelop and again requested the judges to hear the case in chambers. He said data retrieved from Inam's laptop shows that he had connection with spy network.
He claimed that Inam had violated the Official Secret Act 1923 by leaking information concerning the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the country's nuclear programme.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked, "You mean to say that he had shared the information with the enemies of Pakistan. You are also trying to say that Inam is a spy."
Upon that the AGP replied, "Yes he is." He, however, added investigations are still underway. He said the retired colonel has links with spy network and some of its accomplices have been arrested. Inam can't meet his family members till finalization of investigations, added the AGP.
Justice Mushir earlier inquired from AGP about the reasons behind Inam's arrest, adding as per the law the government would have to spell out the reasons.
Inam's counsel sought time to reply the contentions of the AGP. Accepting his plea, the bench adjourned the case until next week.
Advocate Inam Ul Rahiem, a retired colonel, was picked up from his home in Rawalpindi on December 17, 2019.
The Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench on January 10 rejected an intra-court appeal filed by the Defense Ministry against a single-judge bench's order.