ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: The federal government on Thursday informed the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court that a British national, Tariq Mahmood, was in custody of the Pakistani law enforcement agencies and was being interrogated on spying charges.

After the statement by Deputy Attorney General Sultan Mansoor that the British national was taken into custody on spying charges, Mr Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan disposed of a habeas corpus petition.

Sultan Mansoor stated that Tariq Mehmood was taken into custody under Securities of Pakistan Act 1952, and after completion of investigation, his case would be placed before the Review Board as provided under the law.

Iftikhar Ahmad, a resident of Dina, had filed petition in the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court, stating his nephew, Tariq Mahmood, was missing from October 4.