LAHORE: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rao Abdul Karim on Wednesday told the Lahore High Court that over 500 cases of alleged missing girls were currently pending in Punjab.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum was hearing a petition filed by a Faisalabad resident, Sadia Hussain, who sought the recovery of her daughter.

The IGP appeared before the court and confirmed that the missing daughter of the petitioner had been recovered.

During the hearing, the chief justice asked the police chief about the number of cases involving missing girls.

The IGP disclosed that more than 500 such cases were pending in the province.

Chief Justice Neelum asked whether the police had devised any mechanism to deal with cases involving children and women.

The IGP said special committees had been formed to handle such cases.

The chief justice observed that the police appeared to become active only after the court took notice of such matters.

She noted that a girl who had been missing for two years was recovered only after the court took notice of her case.

Chief Justice Neelum expressed concern over the ordeal faced by parents whose daughters go missing and questioned whether the police had ever considered what families went through in such circumstances.

She also expressed displeasure over police negligence in cases involving women.

The chief justice directed the IGP to submit a report regarding efforts being made for the recovery of missing girls.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2026