Colonel ® Inam ur Rahim finally released

Human rights lawyer Colonel ® Inam ur Rahim finally released

The well-known human rights lawyer and former army officer Inam-ur-Rahim finally return home after one month long detention by the ministry of defence. He was picked up by armed persons from his residence. Later on the government accepted that he is in the custody of ministry of defence for violating the Official Secret Act-1923. The HRCP expressed its concern at his abduction.

He was released on medical ground by the Supreme Court after the government told the SC bench that Col® Rahim is not well and he could be released on medical ground.  When the lawyer reached home, he was received by a large number of people including family members and friends who welcomed him with bouquets and flower garlands. 

   

When his family filed petition of his recovery- the government told the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the lawyer was “formally arrested” under the Official Secrets Act, 1923. It had alleged the lawyer was providing information about Pakistan’s top spy agency and its nuclear programme to enemies.

The LHC had, however, directed the government to release the lawyer. The court had also rejected an Intra Court Appeal (ICA) filed by the Ministry of Defence.  Later, the government had approached the Supreme Court against the LHC order.

On January 14, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor Khan told a three-judge bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam that Rahim was part of a spy network and a number of individuals belonging to that ring were still wanted. The AGP argued against his release. But on Wednesday’s hearing- the AGP changed his stance and told the bench that he can be released on medical grounds.  

In view of the AGP’s fresh statement, the court had ordered that the accused be released after depositing his passport with the SC’s Additional Registrar “and with further condition that he will associate and continue to cooperate in the inquiry and investigation”.

Col ®Inam had represented many missing persons in the courts for their recovery and release. He is very vocal on the issue of missing persons. He is considered as anti-army in powerful circles.  

The Pakistan Bar Council in its resolution on January 16 expressed its grave concerns about “forced disappearance and unconstitutional detention” of Rahim and called for his immediate release with a demand to take stern legal action against the delinquents.

                                                   R K Raza