LAHORE, Feb 6: A lawyer reportedly picked up by intelligence agencies on Jan 26 for his alleged association with militant groups and Al-Qaeda members was set free on Tuesday.

Talking to Dawn, Chaudhry Muhammad Farooq, also known as CM Farooq, categorically denied his links with any terror outfit.

He said he had been pleading the cases of missing persons in the Supreme Court besides filing petitions and applications for the rights of those detained in Pakistani prisons on charges of sectarianism or terrorism.

“I am doing it just for the sake of Islam. I am doing it just for the sake of Muslims. This is not a crime at all.”

Farooq said he was also questioned by some foreigners during his detention who wanted to know whereabouts of Al-Qaeda senior command.

“I made them clear that I have been pleading the cases of ordinary members of the militant outfits and that I do not have any link with the senior command.” He said the interrogators also questioned him about the recent wave of terrorism in Pakistan, including suicide bombings and attacks on army.

An intelligence agency source said the lawyer would be kept under surveillance because he had strong ties with the Al-Qaeda members. “We have a proof of his e-mails to several terrorism suspects.”