The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED) has disclosed that it received 197 new cases of missing persons in the first half of this year, highlighting ongoing concerns about enforced disappearances in Pakistan.
Established in 2011 to address issues related to missing individuals, the COIED aims to locate missing persons and identify those responsible for their disappearances. Over the past six months, the commission resolved 226 cases, demonstrating a proactive approach to tackling these serious issues.
As of June 30, the Commission has managed 10,285 cases, successfully resolving 8,015. Authorities have traced 6,464 individuals, conclusively settled 1,551 cases, and 2,270 cases remain pending. Additionally, 4,514 individuals have safely returned home.
The report details the current status of those still missing: authorities located 1,002 in detention centres, 671 in jails, and found 277 deceased. In June, the Commission processed 47 new cases and successfully resolved 28. Among these, 13 had no connection to forced disappearances. Nine individuals returned home, three were in detention centres, two were in jails, and authorities discovered one deceased individual.
Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister of Law, emphasized that resolving the issue of missing persons is complex and requires time. He remarked that Pakistan has been a frontline state in a conflict zone for the last four decades, which has severely impacted its internal security dynamics. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Pakistani people and the military in combating terrorism, and he stressed the importance of considering these factors while seeking resolutions for the issue of missing persons.
