An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the Islamabad police arrested after being accused of sharing sensitive information with a foreign diplomat has denied all charges, with his lawyer claiming that the case against his client was 'fake' and lacked evidence.
"Information sharing is punishable by 14 years but the FIA does not know what was shared because the case is false. No evidence is present so the court is requested to grant bail," the policeman's counsel argued at a hearing on Wednesday.
The ASI's lawyer, Imran Feroze Malik, also questioned the identity of the supposed foreign diplomat, insinuating that the arrest had been borne of a sting operation, with the ASI being set up by an agent of the state. The lawyer told the court that he had not been informed of the whereabouts of the diplomat, or the information allegedly shared with him.
"Who was the diplomat that was mentioned? Was he an agent?" Malik asked the court.
Malik also explained on behalf of his client that the ASI was only in contact with the diplomat because of his posting at the police station's secretariat.
ASI Zahoor Ahmed was arrested on December 13 under the Official Secrets Act. He was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) counter-terrorism wing.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 17 when the prosecution will present their argument.
"Information sharing is punishable by 14 years but the FIA does not know what was shared because the case is false. No evidence is present so the court is requested to grant bail," the policeman's counsel argued at a hearing on Wednesday.
The ASI's lawyer, Imran Feroze Malik, also questioned the identity of the supposed foreign diplomat, insinuating that the arrest had been borne of a sting operation, with the ASI being set up by an agent of the state. The lawyer told the court that he had not been informed of the whereabouts of the diplomat, or the information allegedly shared with him.
"Who was the diplomat that was mentioned? Was he an agent?" Malik asked the court.
Malik also explained on behalf of his client that the ASI was only in contact with the diplomat because of his posting at the police station's secretariat.
ASI Zahoor Ahmed was arrested on December 13 under the Official Secrets Act. He was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) counter-terrorism wing.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 17 when the prosecution will present their argument.