ISLAMABAD: A lawyer on Thursday challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) the restrictions imposed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on his appearance before the field general court martial (FGCM) to defend an officer.

Colonel (retired) Inamur Rahim said the directorate general of air intelligence on June 4, 2014, banned him from appearing in the FGCM to defend Squadron Leader Shahzaib Mehmood citing security reasons.

A letter issued in this regard stated: “It is intimated that Colonel (retired) Inamur Rahim advocate is ‘not cleared’ for his appearance in the FGCM as a defence counsel of Sqn Ldr Shahzaib Mehmood.”

Challenging the directive, advocate Rahim contended in the petition that he was duly qualified under the terms of Air Force Rule and there was no legal fetter or restriction with regard to any clearance on security aspect of such a counsel.

The petition added that advocate Rahim was an ex-serviceman, former member of the judge advocate general (JAG) of Pakistan Army and decorated with Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (military).

It added that as a PAF GD pilot, Mr Mehmood earned Tamgha-i-Basalat and two commendations of chief of air staff, but was recently de-inducted as an F-16 pilot. The removal discouraged the officer and he applied for a premature retirement.

The PAF authorities rejected his resignation and kept him in a solitary confinement at the PAF Base Faisal, Karachi, where he was informed that he shall be tried by FGCM, the petition said.

The officer hired advocate Rahim as a defence counsel.

The petition requested the court to declare illegal the PAF letter in which the appearance of the lawyer in the FGCM has been banned.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2014