Islamabad High Court Orders ISI and MI to Report on Missing Khawaja Khurshid
The Islamabad High Court has instructed the defence ministry to provide a report signed by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) sector commanders regarding the case of Khawaja Khurshid, a missing resident from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Professor Sajjad Raja, former Chairman of the National Equality Party Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan and Ladakh (NEP JKGBL), shared on social media platform X, “Islamabad High Court has ordered ISI and MI to produce Khawaja Khurshid who was abducted from Neelum.”
He added, “This is the second high-profile case since May 14 when PoJK poet Ahmed Farhad was abducted by Pakistani agencies. People of Pakistani-occupied Jammu and Kashmir should now simply ask the Pakistan Army to quit PoJK as directed by the UN Resolutions. That’s the only way forward to stop Human Rights Violations in PoJK.”
Khawaja Khurshid, a resident of Neelum Valley in PoJK, disappeared on June 7. Reports indicate he traveled from Rawalpindi to Islamabad but did not return home as expected.
Enforced disappearances are a serious concern in PoJK, Balochistan, and other regions where individuals are allegedly abducted or detained by state actors or associated groups, often without legal process or disclosure of their whereabouts. These incidents typically involve security forces or intelligence agencies.
Recently, 38-year-old poet Ahmed Farhad from the Bagh district of PoJK was reportedly abducted in May. The Islamabad High Court was later informed that Farhad was in the custody of Dhirkot police in PoJK, and he was recovered 15 days after disappearing. Farhad is known for openly criticizing both the influential establishment and military of Pakistan.
The issue of enforced disappearances in PoJK has garnered attention from international human rights organizations, which have called for investigations and accountability for those responsible. These organizations document cases and provide support to affected families. There is often a lack of transparency in the legal and judicial processes related to missing persons cases, leading to frustration and distrust among affected families and communities.