POJK Court Denies Bail to Abducted Ahmed Farhad Shah in Anti-Terrorism Case
Ahmed Farhad Shah, abducted from Islamabad, remains in custody as a Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir court rejects his bail plea, citing involvement in anti-law enforcement activities.
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has denied the bail request for Ahmed Farhad Shah, who was forcefully abducted from his residence in Islamabad on May 15 and found in police custody on May 29. Shah's lawyer argued that the legal points presented should have granted him bail, but the court disagreed, stating that they did not apply to this specific case.
Shah's sudden appearance in Gujjar Kohala police custody, a village near the PoJK border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, occurred while the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was hearing a case regarding his safe return. During the IHC hearing, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani raised 12 questions focused on the responsibilities of intelligence agencies, indicating the seriousness of Shah's disappearance.
The initial FIR, filed secretly on May 13 at Saddar police station, accused 150-200 unidentified individuals of inciting violence, blocking roads, and attacking a paramilitary convoy. These actions were allegedly orchestrated by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Shah was not initially named in this FIR. His lawyer, Karam Dad Khan, emphasized Shah's absence from PoJK during the protests and highlighted that internet services were down, making his involvement improbable.
Further complications arose when Shah was linked to the protests through his social media activity. The prosecution claimed Shah shared misleading and provocative content on Facebook, which heightened tensions and hatred against law enforcement. On May 13, additional charges were added to the FIR after Shah allegedly incited hatred against law enforcement institutions.
Special Judge Mahmood Farooq ruled that Shah's online material was inflammatory and exaggerated, contributing to public provocation against law enforcement agencies. Consequently, the court found sufficient grounds to connect Shah with the alleged offenses and denied his bail request.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about enforced disappearances and the role of social media in escalating political tensions in Pakistan.