An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has rejected the bail plea of Ahmed Farhad Shah, a victim of enforced disappearance by the oppressive Pak regime. The court’s decision comes as a slap in the face of human rights and due process, further exposing the brutal tactics employed by Islamabad’s occupying forces to silence dissent in the region.
Shah, who had been forcibly abducted from his residence in Islamabad on May 15, mysteriously resurfaced in the custody of Gujjar Kohala police near the PoJK border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on May 29. This appearance, coinciding with an ongoing case for his safe return at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), raised serious concerns about the illegal methods used by Pakistan authorities.
The IHC had taken a firm stance, summoning defense and intelligence secretaries to address the case, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani framed 12 crucial questions, mostly related to the functions and obligations of Pakistan’s notorious spy agencies, known for their heavy-handed tactics against dissidents.
Initially, the police attempted to conceal the true nature of the case by registering a secretive FIR against 150-200 unidentified “miscreants” for allegedly inciting violence and attacking paramilitary forces during protests organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). However, the truth soon emerged, revealing the regime’s desperate attempts to suppress legitimate political activism.
Shah’s counsel, Karam Dad Khan, vehemently argued that his client was not even a nominated accused in the FIR and had been implicated with malicious intent. He further questioned how Shah could orchestrate protests when he was present in Islamabad, and internet services were restricted in PoJK during the demonstrations.
The prosecution’s claims that Shah shared “factually wrong, provocative, and hate-filled material” on his Facebook account during the protests were swiftly countered, as the opposition council highlighted the regime’s blatant disregard for freedom of expression and dissent.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of injustice, special judge Mahmood Farooq rejected Shah’s bail plea, stating that the content he shared was “hateful, inflammatory, and exaggerated the loss of lives during the protests.” This decision not only ignores the fundamental rights of the accused but also emboldens the oppressive tactics of the Pak Army in PoJK.
The international community must take note and hold Pakistan accountable for its actions, lest more innocent lives are sacrificed at the altar of its oppressive ambitions.
