ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Thursday summoned a report from the defence secretary regarding the alleged involvement of state intelligence agencies in the abduction of Kashmiri poet and journalist Ahmed Farhad Shah.
Shah was reportedly abducted from his home the previous day. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has called for his immediate release.
Shah’s wife filed a petition with the IHC on the same day, requesting that he be found and brought before the court, and that those responsible for his disappearance be identified, investigated, and prosecuted.
Justice Kayani held the first hearing on the matter the day before and ordered Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jameel Zafar to retrieve Shah at any cost, warning that he would otherwise summon the defence secretary.
Shah’s wife was represented in court today by Advocates Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. SSP Zafar, Assistant Attorney General Usman Rasool Ghuman, and other officials were also present.
According to the written order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the SSP informed the court that an investigation was underway, with a special investigation team formed. Geo-fencing was being conducted, and CCTV footage of the incident had been collected. Multiple suspected vehicles were checked, and letters were issued to other law enforcement agencies.
“At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has specifically nominated Inter-Services Intelligence in the abduction, therefore, the secretary, Ministry of Defence, is directed to submit a concise report after seeking reports from the relevant quarters of Inter-Services Intelligence, as well as from Military Intelligence, explaining how and under what circumstances the detainee was kidnapped from Islamabad Capital Territory, on the next date of hearing,” the order reads.
The case was adjourned till Monday.
Politician Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said he attended the hearing and was “glad to see the court taking a categorical position” on the matter.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, when asked about the matter during a press conference, stated that he had discussed it with the inspector general of police (IGP) and that a search was already underway.
“They are searching and hopefully something will be worked out and found out,” he said.
