ISLAMABAD:
The Cabinet Committee on Enforced Disappearances on Wednesday ordered the Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances to submit a detailed report with verifiable facts and figures on the missing persons.
The Committee session was chaired by Minister of Law and Justice, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar.
During the meeting, updates were requested on the facts and figures of the cases currently under review by the Commission. It was observed that there are discrepancies between the data presented by the Commission and the figures reported by human rights organizations and civil society.
The Committee was informed that many of the cases examined by the Commission turned out to be false and some individuals were declared criminals who had fled the country to avoid judicial proceedings.
As per the Cabinet instructions, a financial support package of up to Rs 5 million would be provided to families of missing persons for more than five years, subject to verification of legal heirs by NADRA.
The Committee ordered the Commission to submit a comprehensive report with verifiable facts and figures regarding the missing persons. He also emphasized the need for the incoming President of the Commission to launch a public awareness campaign on the complaints mechanism and expedite the processing of financial support packages for affected families.
The Committee, constituted by the federal cabinet, includes the ministers of Law and Defense, the attorney general and the secretaries of the Interior and legal divisions.
