ISLAMABAD: The high-level committee constituted by the federal cabinet to look into the issue of enforced disappearances has sought detailed reports from police, district administrations and intelligence agencies to counter such incidents.

The first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Enforced Disappearances was convened at the Ministry of Law and Justice on Friday to look into the growing incidents of disappearances in the country.

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Naseem chaired the meeting. The minister urged the participants to stick to the mandate given by the cabinet to the committee to figure out the reasons behind enforced disappearances and submit recommendations to eradicate such occurrences.

He directed Islamabad Capital Territory Director General Syeda Shafaq Hashmi, Inspector General of Police Amir Zulfiqar and representatives of the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), IB (Intelligence Bureau) and the interior ministry to provide information regarding causes of enforced disappearances at the next meeting.

Farogh Naseem posed serious questions to police officials during the meeting.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari and others attended the meeting. The next meeting is expected to be convened next week.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020