ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Enforced Disappearance on Wednesday was informed on Wednesday that many cases reviewed by the CoIED were found to be bogus, with some individuals being proclaimed offenders who had fled the country to avoid legal proceedings.

Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Law and Justice, chaired the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Enforced Disappearances.  The Committee, constituted by the Federal Cabinet, includes the Ministers for Law and Defence, Attorney General, and Secretaries Interior and Law Division, with the mandate to review initiatives addressing enforced disappearances and evaluate the work of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CoIED). During the meeting, updates were sought on the facts and figures of cases currently under review by the Commission. It was observed that discrepancies exist between data presented by the Commission and figures reported by human rights organizations and civil society. The Committee was informed that many cases reviewed by the Commission were found to be bogus, with some individuals being proclaimed offenders who had fled the country to avoid legal proceedings. As per the Cabinet's direction, a financial support package of up to five million rupees will be provided to families of individuals missing for over five years, subject to verification of legal heirs by NADRA. The Committee directed the Commission to submit a comprehensive report with verifiable facts and figures regarding missing persons. It also emphasized the need for the incoming Chairperson of the Commission to launch a public awareness campaign for the complaint mechanism and expedite the processing of financial support packages for affected families.