The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CoIED) has disposed of 113 cases of missing persons during the month of September 2025, according to a report released on Friday.

During the month, the commission stated that “14 missing persons returned home”. From March 2011 to September 2025, the commission received 10,636 cases, out of which 8,986 cases have been disposed of, while 1,650 cases are under investigation.

“The disposal of cases works out to be 84.48 per cent consequent to the investigation of cases,” stated the monthly report.

The report further stated that the commission has disposed of 289 cases during the three-month period of July-September, at approximately 96 cases per month.

The commission said it has also taken steps for the welfare of families of missing persons, establishing a cell “providing relief to families by addressing matters such as the issuance of Form B of children of missing persons and the grant of pension to families of missing persons, who happen to be government servants”.

Last month, a civil society organisation called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to “re-evaluate the entire mechanism for resolving the issue of enforced disappearances.”

In August 2024, the United Nations asked Pakistan to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and allocate adequate human, technical and financial resources for developing, adopting and implementing measures to prevent and end enforced disappearances among ethnic minority groups and ensure their safety and security.

In December last year, the Cons­ti­tutional Bench of the Sup­reme Court emp­hasised that only parliament holds the authority to add­ress and resolve the longstanding, yet unlawful, practice of enforced disappearances.

Opinion

Editorial

Immunity gap
Updated 26 Apr, 2026

Immunity gap

Pakistan’s Big Catch-Up campaign showed progress but also exposed the scale of gaps in routine immunisation.
Danger on repeat
26 Apr, 2026

Danger on repeat

DISASTERS have typically been framed as acts of nature. Of late, they look increasingly like tests of preparedness...
Loose lips
26 Apr, 2026

Loose lips

PAKISTANIS have by now gained something of an international reputation for their gallows humour, but it seems that...
Lebanon truce
Updated 25 Apr, 2026

Lebanon truce

THE fact that the truce between Israel and Lebanon has been extended for three weeks should be welcomed. But there...
Terrorism again
25 Apr, 2026

Terrorism again

THE elimination of 22 terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in Khyber highlights both the scale and ...
Taxing technology
25 Apr, 2026

Taxing technology

THE recent decision by the FBR’s Directorate General of Customs Valuation to increase the ‘assessed value’ of...