Islamabad:
Since its reconstitution, the Commission for Research on Forced Disappearances (Cowead) has resolved 8,770, or 82%, of the 10,607 supposed cases of forced disappearance he has received.
In July alone, after Justice (Retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah assumed the position, the commission resolved 70 cases and registered 15 new complaints, said a statement issued by the commission on Friday.
The Federal Government reconstituted the Commission, appointing Justice (RETD) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, former main judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals Gilgit-Baltistan, as its president.
Justice (retd) Nazar Akbar was appointed member (Sindh); The retired judge Muhammad Bashir as a member (Islamabad) and Justice (retd) Syed Aphsar Shah was appointed member (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) to handle cases of alleged forced disappearances in the province.
Justice (retd) served as a judge in the Superior Court of Sindh; Bashir served as Judge of the Court of Responsibility of Islamabad-I and Justice (Retd) Shah served as a judge in the Superior Court of Peshawar.
According to the statement, the Commission has also implemented the Federal Assistance Package of the Federal Government of RS5 million for families of missing persons. The president has presided over two meetings to present recommendations to the Government with respect to such cases of financial assistance.
The Commission emphasized the need for a uniform policy to investigate and resolve cases of disappearance immediately. The president also visited Lahore and Karachi to work in regulations aimed at preventing disappearance, listening to more than 50 cases in these cities.
