According to a report released on Monday, the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIOED) received 197 new missing persons cases in the first half of this year. Established in 2011 to locate missing individuals and hold accountable those responsible, the commission resolved 226 cases in the first six months of 2023.
As of June 30, a total of 10,285 cases had been reported, with 8,015 cases resolved. Among these, 6,464 individuals were located, and 1,551 cases were closed.
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The report detailed that 2,270 cases remain unresolved, while 4,514 individuals were reunited with their families, 1,002 were in internment centers, 671 were in prisons, and 277 were confirmed deceased. In June alone, 47 new cases were reported, and 28 cases were resolved.
Among these, 13 cases were unrelated to enforced disappearances, nine individuals returned home, three were found in internment centers, two were in jails, and one deceased person was identified.
On April 23, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar acknowledged the complexity of addressing missing persons, emphasizing Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in a conflict-ridden region for the past four decades. He highlighted the additional challenges posed by neighboring countries’ circumstances.
Tarar also recognized the significant sacrifices made by the Pakistani people and military in the fight against terrorism, stressing the importance of considering these sacrifices in addressing the issue of missing persons.
