The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday declared poet Farhad Ali Shah as a ‘missing person’ till he reached back to his home.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued a four page written order regarding disposal of a petition seeking recovery of the missing poet.
The order said that Syed Farhad Ali Shah who was missing since May 15, 2024 couldn’t reach home so far and a first information report (FIR) was registered with the Lohebher Police Station Islamabad under section 427 and 365 PPC regarding his missing.
It said that the court was told that Farhad Ali was arrested by Police Station Derkot Kashmir and he was also required to Saddar Police Station Muzafarabad in another case of terrorism.
It said that in above circumstances the person couldn’t be produced before the bench and the court has reached to a conclusion that he was forcibly disappeared and the concerned institution failed to recover him. The court said that as per the investigation officer Farhad Ali was currently in judicial custody. However, keeping in view all the circumstances, the court declared the arrest of Farhad Ali as illegal. It said that investigation officer of Lohebher Police Station was bound to record the statement of Syed Farhad Ali Shah under section-164 before a judicial magistrate after his return and proceed the investigation in light of the statement.