PESHAWAR, May 28: A brother of an alleged militant reportedly detained by an intelligence agency has moved the Peshawar High Court to seek his release.

Mohammad Sohail, resident of Garhi Kapura, Mardan district, has submitted a habeas corpus petition, stating that his brother Mohammad Zaheer ‘disappeared’ after after he was removed by intelligence officials from a police lock-up 18 months ago, following his arrest in a bank robbery case.

Sohail said he was informed by the police officer investigating the case that his brother had been taken away by a colonel and a major belonging to an intelligence agency.

Despite repeated requests, the authorities concerned had not provided any information about Zaheer, his brother stated.

He contended that the detention of his brother by the agency was illegal and unconstitutional.

A two-member bench of the high court will take up the petition for preliminary hearing on May 31.

Respondents in the case include Inter Services Intelligence director-general, NWFP provincial police officer and Swat district police officer.

According to Sohail, the Swat police had arrested his brother in connection with a robbery at the Matta branch of the National Bank of Pakistan.

During the robbery on Dec 3, 2004, Rs2.6 million had been looted. After a shootout, the police had killed two alleged robbers and arrested their six accomplices.

Police believed the robbers belonged to the proscribed militant outfit Jaish-i-Muhammad.