Pakistan to Support Families of Missing Persons with Financial Aid

The Pakistan government announced on Friday that it will offer financial aid to families of missing persons, responding to increasing pressure to tackle forced disappearances. This decision emerged from a cabinet meeting that reviewed reports from two previous committees investigating the issue, according to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.

Tarar explained that the families of missing persons face significant economic hardships. Consequently, the cabinet decided to provide urgent support after thorough evaluation. "A special committee will be formed to determine which families need an immediate support package, after which each [eligible] family will receive Rs 5 million," Tarar said. "Keep in mind that this is not compensation of any kind, as there is no compensation for a human life," he added, clarifying that the assistance is meant to help them with legal and financial challenges.

Support for Families of Missing Persons

The law minister noted that over 2,000 cases were identified for assistance. Initially, 1,000 families whose relatives have been missing for more than five years will be prioritised on a first-come, first-served basis. He also mentioned that the prime minister established a committee to determine the process for providing support.

Tarar highlighted that various factors contribute to people being reported as missing. He stressed that blaming intelligence agencies alone is insufficient to locate these individuals. He assured that intelligence agencies are cooperating to resolve the issue.

Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances

The issue of missing persons has been particularly prominent in Balochistan, which has faced a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIOED), formed under Supreme Court directives, has been operational for over ten years. The commission reported receiving 10,285 cases from January 2018 to June 30, 2024, with 8,015 cases resolved.

Among the resolved cases, 4,514 individuals returned home, 1,002 were held in internment centres, 671 were imprisoned, 277 were found dead, and 1,551 cases were closed for various reasons. Despite these efforts, new cases continue to emerge. In the first half of 2024 alone, COIOED received 197 new cases and disposed of 226 cases.

Recent Protests and Government Response

Balochistan has witnessed several protests and unrest in recent months over the issue of missing persons. A recent protest in Gwadar ended today after an agreement was signed between the Balochistan government and the protestors.

In a related development, a three-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been hearing a case concerning missing persons. Following its orders earlier this week, the government established a three-member committee comprising top intelligence officials to assist in recovering missing individuals.

This financial support initiative aims to alleviate some of the economic burdens faced by families while efforts continue to address the broader issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan.