Pakistan’s Missing Persons: 197 New Cases Reported in 2023
In the first half of 2023, 197 new missing persons cases were reported to the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIOED). The commission, established in 2011, aims to trace missing persons and hold responsible parties accountable.
As of June 30, the commission has received a total of 10,285 cases, resolving 8,015 and tracing 6,464 individuals. In the first six months of 2023, 226 cases were resolved, leaving 2,270 cases pending. Of those resolved, 4,514 individuals returned home, 1,002 were in internment centers, 671 were in prisons, and 277 were found dead.
In June alone, 47 new cases were reported, and 28 were resolved. Among these, 13 were unrelated to enforced disappearances, nine individuals returned home, three were in internment centers, two were in jails, and one person’s body was found.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated on April 23 that the issue of missing persons could not be solved overnight but emphasized the government’s commitment to finding a solution through consensus among all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), led by Mama Qadeer Baloch, continues its peaceful protests demanding the safe recovery of missing individuals. The protest camp outside the Quetta Press Club has been ongoing for 5,496 days. Mama Qadeer Baloch has criticized Pakistani forces for forcibly abducting Baloch youths and praised the Baloch community’s disciplined approach in seeking their recovery.
