ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government approved a financial package of Rs5 million ($17,925) for each family of a “missing person,” following nearly a decade of work by a dedicated commission.
The issue of missing persons in Pakistan, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, has been a long-standing concern. Many political activists, rights advocates, and professionals have vanished, often with no official explanation. These disappearances are frequently attributed to security forces, although the agencies have consistently denied any involvement.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced the aid package to the media in Islamabad after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This decision comes shortly after the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) ended its sit-in protest in Gwadar, which had been organized to draw attention to alleged human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
Tarar noted that terrorism and internal challenges have plagued Pakistan since the Afghan war, prompting the formation of the commission to address the issue of missing persons.
He praised the “positive cooperation” from the country’s intelligence agencies in compiling a report after consultations with state institutions.
The law minister reported that out of 10,200 cases brought before the commission, 8,000 have been resolved, leaving only 23 percent of cases pending. He emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving all cases of missing persons with all available resources, stating that “the state is like a mother” and relief is being provided to victims in this spirit.
