Govt reconstitutes commission on enforced disappearances

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has reconstituted the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, appointing Justice (retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah as its new chairperson.

Following his appointment, Justice Shah has initiated measures aimed at resolving cases of missing persons. The commission has so far received 10,607 complaints of alleged enforced disappearances, disposing of 8,770 cases, around 82 per cent, as of July 31, 2025.

In July alone, after Shah assumed office, the commission resolved 70 enforced disappearances cases and registered 15 new complaints. It also began implementing a PKR five million financial assistance package for families of missing persons. The chairman presided over two meetings to finalise recommendations on the assistance cases for the federal government.

IHC directs DC Islamabad to peacefully end missing persons’ sit-in

Justice (retd) Nazar Akbar has been appointed as the commission’s member for Sindh, retired judge Muhammad Bashir for Islamabad, and Justice (retd) Syed Afsar Shah for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Stressing the need for a uniform policy to expedite investigations and case resolutions, Justice Shah has also toured Lahore and Karachi to work on regulations to curb disappearances. During these visits, he heard over 50 cases.

All missing persons will be reunited with their families, AGP assures court

Justice Shah has met the interior secretaries and police chiefs of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, and Sindh. He has urged all provinces, Islamabad, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to ensure timely submission of comprehensive reports from joint investigation teams and provincial task forces on enforced disappearances.