RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench on Friday sought a reply from the ministries of defence and interior on a petition seeking recovery of a lawyer, retired colonel Inamur Rahim, who was picked up from his residence on Dec 17.

Justice Tariq Abbasi directed the the Rawalpindi regional police officer (RPO) to trace Mr Rahim and file a report about his alleged abduction.

Police informed the court that a first information report (FIR) about the abduction had been registered.

According to the FIR, Advocate Rahim was picked up by unknown persons from his residence in Askari 14, which is considered a secured locality in the garrison city.

The FIR states that Mr Rahim was asleep when the unidentified individuals trespassed into his residence and forcibly abducted him while extending threats to the family members. Since Dec 17, his whereabouts are not known.

FIR says advocate Inam was picked up from his home by unknown individuals in uniform

The lawyers, including Rawalpindi District Bar Association president Sohail Tanvir Shah, senior lawyers Ahsanuddin Sheikh, Tariq Asad, retired Brigadier Wasaf Khan Niazi, Rana Abdul Qayyum, Waheed Khan and others, appeared before the court to represent the petitioner and Mr Rahim’s son, Hasnain Inam.

The court asked the secretaries of interior and defence and the RPO to file their respective replies along with affidavits. Further hearing on the matter was adjourned to Monday.

Earlier, Mr Rahim’s son Hasnain Inam had told the Morgah police that someone rang the doorbell at around 12.30am on Tuesday.

He said he had asked who was there before unlocking the door, and the person on the other side identified himself as ‘Ali’.

He said that when he unlocked the front door, he saw eight to 10 people in black uniform with the Pakistani flag stitched on their arms who forced their way into the house.

The men then searched every room and forced Mr Rahim into a black pick-up truck at gunpoint and drove away.

Mr Inam said in his complaint that he was also threatened with kidnapping if he told anyone about the incident.

Mr Rahim’s abduction has been condemned by Syed Amjad Shah and Sher Mohammad Khan, the vice chairman and chairman, respective, of the Pakistan Bar Council’s executive committee.

In a statement, they said: “We strongly condemn the kidnapping of Col (R) Inam-ur-Rahim, advocate yesterday midnight, by about 8/10 unknown armed persons in uniforms, from his residence at Askari 14, Adyala Road, Rawalpindi.”

The statement said Mr Rahim was being victimised for raising his voice and protesting over missing persons and approaching the courts for their safe recovery.

“We, therefore, demand the government and other concerned institutions/agencies for forthwith release of Col (R) Inam-ur-Rahim, advocate and taking action against the kidnappers for having violated the law to deprive a retired army officer of his right to liberty and life as well as lawful activity for protection of human rights and thus putting his life in danger,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2019