QUETTA: The first meeting of the Parliamentary Commission on Missing Persons on Friday decided to extend all help and assistance to the families of the disappeared who were not involved in any terrorist activity.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the commission — which was constituted on the order of the Balochistan High Court on Nov 17, 2021 — presided over by provincial Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove and attended by its members Finance Minister Zamarak Khan Piralizai, parliamentary leader of BNP-Mengal Mir Naseer Ahmed Shahwani, JUI-F MPA Zabid Reki and Additional Chief Secretary Home Zahid Saleem.

Minister Mir Asadullah Baloch, who was also included in the commission, refused to be part of it, saying he was not taken into confidence before forming the commission.

Zahid Saleem, who is secretary of the commission, briefed the meeting on the matter. He said the purpose of setting up the commission is to review the case of each missing person and take measures for his recovery.

It was decided that the commission’s members will hold separate meetings with the head of the commission established against the harassment of Baloch students in different educational institutions in Punjab and Islamabad.

Official sources said the meeting discussed the procedure to be followed for extending support and assistance to the relatives of the disappeared and decided to help the families of those missing persons who are not involved in any terrorist activity. It was also decided that the commission would seek a detailed list of the missing persons from relevant institutions.

The commission would submit its report to the authorities concerned with recommendations.

“Very soon the commission will meet the families of the missing persons,” Mr Langove said.

Published in Dawn, january 7th, 2023