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379 New Missing Persons Cases Reported in 2024, Says Commission
In 2024, 379 new missing persons cases were filed with Pakistan's Commission on Enforced Disappearances. Since 2011, 10,467 cases have been registered, with 4,613 individuals found.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-07
379 New Missing Persons Cases Reported in 2024, Says Commission

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIOED) reported a significant increase in missing persons cases in 2024, with 379 new cases filed in the year. Established in 2011, the commission is tasked with tracing missing persons and holding those responsible accountable.

According to the commission’s figures, 427 cases were resolved in 2024, with the total number of cases submitted to the COIOED now standing at 10,467. Of these, 8,216 cases have been addressed, leading to the tracing of 6,599 individuals. The commission reported that 4,613 missing persons were returned to their homes, 1,011 were confined in internment centers, 687 were incarcerated in prisons, and 288 were found deceased.

The progress report for December 2024 highlighted that 29 new cases were received during the month, with 44 cases disposed of. Of those, 23 individuals were reunited with their families, five were held in internment centers, four were in prisons, and two deceased bodies were discovered. Additionally, 10 cases were deemed unrelated to enforced disappearances.

Despite the commission’s efforts, 2,251 cases remain unresolved, signaling the persistence of the issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan. This longstanding problem, which has plagued the country for decades, continues to affect thousands of families.

Supreme Court Urges Parliament to Resolve the Issue

In a related development, the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan emphasized last month that the power to resolve the issue of enforced disappearances rests solely with the parliament. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, a member of the bench, made it clear that while the judiciary can provide oversight, only parliament has the constitutional authority to address the root causes of the problem.

“The solution to this problem is to be found by parliament,” Justice Mandokhail remarked during proceedings, adding that the judiciary recognizes parliament as the supreme body, and it is now time for it to take decisive action.

This remark comes after years of public outcry over the growing number of missing persons in the country, many of whom are suspected to have been victims of enforced disappearances—where individuals are abducted by state or non-state actors and held without due process or legal recourse.

Government Response and Ongoing Efforts

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the issue in April 2024, acknowledging that the problem of missing persons cannot be solved immediately but requires a comprehensive, long-term solution. The law minister emphasized the need for a national consensus among all stakeholders, including political parties, the military, and human rights organizations, to find a resolution.

Minister Tarar also pointed to Pakistan's role as a frontline state in the region’s ongoing conflicts, particularly in the war on terrorism, which has contributed to the complicated internal security situation. He stressed the sacrifices made by the Pakistani people and military in combating terrorism, highlighting that these should be taken into consideration when formulating a solution.

“We have paid an unbelievable price,” the minister said, referring to the human and material costs of Pakistan’s fight against terrorism. He acknowledged that while the issue of missing persons is tragic, the broader context of national security must also be considered in seeking an effective resolution.

A Persistent Human Rights Challenge

The issue of enforced disappearances remains a critical human rights concern in Pakistan. The COIOED, despite its efforts, faces numerous challenges in its attempts to trace missing persons and identify those responsible. The fact that over 2,000 cases remain unresolved suggests deep institutional and structural problems in the country’s approach to the issue.

Many of the missing persons are believed to be victims of extrajudicial actions carried out by intelligence agencies, the military, or militant groups. Families of the missing have long campaigned for justice, with little accountability for those responsible.

While some progress has been made with hundreds of individuals being traced or released, the large number of unresolved cases, combined with the lack of transparency in the process, continues to fuel mistrust among citizens.

Conclusion

The number of missing persons in Pakistan remains a pressing issue that reflects broader challenges in the country's security and legal systems. Despite the efforts of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, the scale of the problem and the complex political and security dynamics mean that a comprehensive solution remains elusive.

As the Supreme Court has pointed out, it is now up to parliament to find a way forward. Whether through legal reforms, political dialogue, or policy changes, it is clear that addressing the issue of missing persons will require coordinated efforts across Pakistan’s political, legal, and military institutions.

The people of Pakistan, particularly the families of the missing, continue to await justice, hoping that a lasting resolution will finally bring an end to this painful chapter in the nation's history.
Tagged:

HumanRights

SupremeCourt

MissingPersons

EnforcedDisappearances

COIOED
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