Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan informed the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday about the recovery of kidnapped Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad Shah, saying he is in custody of Dhirkot police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The 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. During the hearing of the case regarding the disappearance of the poet, the AGP presented a report from the Dhirkot police station in AJK, confirming Farhad's arrest. IHC’s Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked “No one has enmity with the agencies. All the court want is that everybody should work as per law.” Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who was also present in the courtroom said the Parliament should also play its role as children as young as 14 years old are being used as “suicide bombers”. Justice Kayani then turned to the AGP and said the replies to the questions which the court had raised during the last hearing were yet to come. Poet Ahmed Farhad’s wife Arooj Zainab along with lawyer Imaan Mazari was also present in the court.

During the previous hearing on Friday last, the IHC had summoned Sector Commanders of ISI and MI and DG Intelligence Bureau (IB) to appear in person before the court in the case of missing Kashmiri poet. The court also summoned the law minister, as well as, the secretaries of interior and defence to appear before it on May 29. A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the missing poet Ahmed Farhad case, wherein, his wife moved the court through lawyers, Imaan Mazari advocate and Hadi Ali Chatha advocate for recovery of her husband. In its written order in Urdu, the court also asked about the administrative process, which is formally notified and which shows “accountability” system and “self-check” mechanism under which the officials and operatives of the agencies are “accountable” for their mistakes, negligence, and illegal affairs. Justice Kayani had also directed the concerned officers of the IB, the ISI and the MI to appear before the court in person and assist the court regarding the administrative matters of their respective departments.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan