Title: Reconstituted missing persons committee to have parliamentary presence
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The government will reconstitute the missing persons committee on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said the law and information ministers while addressing the media.
Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar assured that the government is "serious" about resolving the issue and added that the new committee would also have a parliamentary presence.
The law minister cautioned that resolving the complex issue of missing persons, which spans over four decades and encompasses various dimensions, cannot be accomplished overnight.
Azam stressed the necessity of both political and legal solutions, highlighting the importance of consensus among stakeholders.
Pointing out Pakistan's sacrifices in the war on terrorism, he acknowledged the heavy toll borne by the nation and its security forces and underscored the need for concerted efforts to address the issue effectively.
The information minister reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the matter of missing persons and cited that the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has resolved 7,900 cases our of over 10,000 cases pending before it.
Attaullah during the press conference, also praised the ruling party for the measures it has taken. Citing reports from international financial institutions and rating agencies, the minister claimed validation of the present government's economic policies aimed at achieving stability.
Read SC seeks lasting fix for missing persons’ issue
He highlighted achievements such as a surplus current account, increased foreign direct investment, and a rise in information technology (IT) exports, crediting it to PM Shehbaz's 'prudent' economic measures.
Expressing optimism, the information minister articulated confidence in the potential for the country to achieve greater prosperity through the continued implementation of sound economic policies.
SC moved for NAP implementation
A petition seeking the implementation of the National Action Plan was lodged in the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, with the federal and provincial governments, along with the interior ministry, and other relevant parties, named as respondents.
Nawabzada Jamal Raisani, Patron-in-Chief of Balochistan Martyrs Forum filed the petition through Advocate Hafiz Ehsan Khokhar and urged immediate implementation of police reforms and measures to combat terrorism.
The petition specifically calls for the immediate initiation of police reforms. It also sought prompt decisions on all pending terrorism cases across various courts.
Additionally, Raisani in his petition implored the federal and provincial authorities to adopt measures in line with international standards to ensure the protection of witnesses and prosecution.
The petition advocates for the provision of free education to the children of martyrs - and security for their families. It also emphasized the necessity of preventive measures to curb the propagation of terrorism via social media platforms.
Raisani pleaded for legal action against individuals who falsely label terrorists as missing persons for propagandist purposes.
Such actions, he argued, not only distort the reality but also undermine efforts to combat terrorism effectively.
The SC had directed the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances to submit - within ten days - a comprehensive report detailing all orders issued to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for the production of missing persons, earlier this year on January 3.
On January 11, the federal cabinet approved the reconstitution of its committee on missing persons headed by the law minister.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) had mandated the use of modern technology and the posting of images on social media to recover the missing persons.
On February 28, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) formed a committee comprising heads of three top spy agencies of the country on the issue of missing Baloch students.
Published Date: 23-Apr-2024
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