Hailing from a Pushto-speaking family Ahmed Faraz learned and studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University where he also taught later. Outspoken on political issues, he went into self-exile during the Zia-ul-Haq era. He was also arrested during that period for reciting poems critical of the military rule. He stayed for three years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan.
He had also served as Chairman Academy of Letters, and chairperson of the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years. He was awarded many national and international awards. He was inspired by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Pakistan People's Party. He was awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2004, in recognition of his literary achievements.
However, he criticised the government of the day and its policies and returned the award in 2006. Maintaining a tradition established by his mentor, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he wrote excellent poetry in exile. His famous work of resistance was "Mahasara". One of his famous ghazals was Ranjish Hi Sahi. He had written 13 books.