IHC summons defence secy, ISI sector commander over poet Farhad Shah’s disappearance

Islamabad High Court (IHC) senior puisne judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani has summoned defence secretary and ISI sector commander in connection with a petition seeking the recovery of Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad Shah, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Conducting the hearing on Friday, Justice Mohsin Kayani ordered defence secretary and the ISI sector commander to appear before the court on May 29. “Sector commander is equivalent to our SHO, so he should not be ashamed of appearing in the court. All institutions are subordinate to the law and no once should feel insulted for appearing in courts,” the IHC judge remarked.

Poet Farhad Shah was allegedly abducted from his home last week. A petition was filed by Shah’s wife in the IHC, requesting that he be found and produced before the court and to identify, investigate and prosecute those responsible for his disappearance.

Justice Kayani had conducted the first hearing on the matter and ordered Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jameel Zafar to retrieve Shah at any cost, warning that he would otherwise summon the defence secretary. The judge had issued a notice to the defence secretary in the next hearing.

As the proceedings began on Friday, Attorney General for Pakistan (AFP) Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that search for Farhad Shah was under way and his local has been traced where a police party is present at the moment.

Justice Kayani asked has State’s guarantee failed? To which, the AGP said “No, it has not failed yet.”

Reporter Ehtesham Kayani