Missing poet Ahmed Farhad found, in Kashmir police custody, IHC informed

The Islamabad High Court was informed on Wednesday about the recovery of the kidnapped Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad.

The attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) briefed the court that Farhad, who had been reported missing, has been located and is currently in the custody of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The AGP produced a report from the Dhirkot police station in AJK, verifying Farhad’s detention, during the court hearing about the poet’s absence.

It is still unclear exactly what led to his arrest and under what conditions he was being held.

The court was relieved that Farhad had recovered because he had been a source of great concern for both the public and literary circles.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the IHC conducted the hearing on the petition of Ain Naqvi, the wife of the allegedly kidnapped poet. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and AGP Mansoor Usman Awan were present in the court.

Addressing the law minister, the court asked him why he was standing on the other side when he was appointed as a judicial assistant. The minister said he would follow any orders the court gave. Justice Kayani remarked that the matter was resolved as he came to the court.

The judge went on to say that everyone in the country supported the military services and that there was no animosity between the agencies and anybody. He continued by saying that there were still some unanswered questions from the court. “All we ask is that you follow the law. We think that organizations will grow accustomed to operating under the law,” he continued.

Justice Kayani enquired as to the procedure followed when an intelligence agency chose to pick someone. According to the law minister, there was inappropriate content on social media. Justice Kayani said that he didn’t watch TV or use social media at this point.

“Ask Ahmed Farhad’s family, and the case will be disposed of. I will send the file for the formation of a larger bench on the missing persons issue,” he remarked.