AJK High Court grants bail to poet Ahmed Farhad

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court Friday granted bail to poet Ahmed Farhad weeks after his arrest.

The poet’s bail petition was approved against a surety bond worth Rs200,000.

The court’s order read that the poet was missing since May 15 and couldn’t reach home, while a first information report (FIR) regarding his disappearance was registered with the Lohebher Police Station in Islamabad under Section 427 and 365 PPC.

As per the order, the court was told that Farhad Ali was arrested by Police Station Dherkot Kashmir and was also wanted by the Saddar Police Station Muzaffarabad in another case of terrorism.

It added that in above circumstances the person couldn’t be produced before the bench. Therefore, the court reached a conclusion that he was forcibly disappeared and the institution concerned failed to recover him.

The court, in its order, mentioned that Farhad was currently in judicial custody, as per the investigation officer, and declared his arrest “illegal”. The court stated that the investigation officer of Lohebher Police Station was bound to record the poet’s statement under Section-164 before a judicial magistrate after his return and proceed the investigation in light of his statement.