Poet Ahmed Farhad arrested by AJK police, AGP tells IHC

The Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, Wednesday informed the Islamabad High Court regarding the whereabouts of missing Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad.

According to the AGP, the poet has been "arrested and currently in police custody" in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The AGP revealed the information during the hearing of a petition seeking the recovery of the poet.

Urooj Zainab, Farhad's wife who moved IHC on May 15, sought her husband's recovery and requested the court to identify, investigate, and prosecute those responsible for his disappearance.

The plea was heard by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, while human rights lawyer Iman Mazari is representing Zainab in the case.

A report by the DhirKot Kashmir police station was also presented before the court.

In conversation with journalists outside the IHC, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the police is investigating the Kashmiri poet’s case.

“Ahmad Farhad is in Azad Kashmir, I assisted on constitutional matters as a judicial assistant,” he said, explaining his presence at the court today.

Farhad, known for his defiant prose, was allegedly abducted from his house on May 14.

During the hearing of the case on May 21, AGP Awan assured the court about rescuing and recovering the poet following the IHC orders.

"[We] will do whatever it takes. [We] will rescue and recover [Farhad]," the AGP said while addressing the IHC judge and taking the responsibility to look into the matter.

During the hearing, Justice Kayani ordered the AGP to ensure that "no one gets picked up from Islamabad".

"If a person does not get recovered, it will be a failure of the state," the judge said.

Responding to the remark, AGP Awan asked for time to ensure the poet's recovery.

Meanwhile, the petitioner's lawyer asked the AGP to share the progress on recovery made in the last six days.

"If the agencies don't have him [Farhad] then he can be traced at least," she argued.