Federal Government restructures missing person’s commission
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has officially restructured the Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances, according to a report.
Justice (R) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah has been appointed as the new chairman of the commission. As of July 31, 2025, the commission has received a total of 10,607 cases related to enforced disappearances across Pakistan. Out of these, 8,770 cases have been resolved, showing a resolution rate of 82%.
In the month of July alone, Chairman Arshad Hussain Shah resolved 70 cases, while 15 new complaints were registered. The commission is actively working to address enforced disappearances, a long-standing human rights concern in the country.
To support affected families, the government has started giving Rs 5 million in financial assistance. The Chairman also led two meetings to review these aid applications.
Several new appointments have been made to strengthen the commission:
- Justice (R) Nazar Akbar (Sindh)
- Muhammad Bashir (Islamabad)
- Justice (R) Syed Afsar Shah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
Justice Arshad also visited Lahore and Karachi, where he heard over 50 cases. He met with home secretaries and police chiefs from all provinces and Azad Kashmir, urging them to submit timely reports from their respective investigative teams.
Meanwhile, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC), led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, held its 53rd meeting at the Supreme Court. The committee strongly condemned enforced disappearances and emphasized that the judiciary will never compromise on protecting basic human rights.
