
The issue of missing persons in Pakistan remains one of the country’s most unresolved and sensitive human rights crises. For decades, families have been left in anguish, unaware of the fate of their loved ones who have disappeared under mysterious or enforced circumstances. Despite repeated promises and inquiries, little progress has been made, and many cases remain unsolved. With the appointment of Justice (Retired) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar as the new head of the Missing Persons Commission, the hope is that this grave issue will be addressed more effectively. However, the long-standing failure to resolve the crisis has led to widespread frustration and criticism, especially from human rights organizations and legal experts.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), have consistently raised alarms about the problem of enforced disappearances in the country. Estimates on the number of missing persons vary, but according to the HRCP, as many as 7,000 individuals have disappeared across Pakistan, with a disproportionate number coming from Balochistan. Other estimates suggest the number could be much higher, with various advocacy groups and local media reports citing figures ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 individuals who have gone missing over the past two decades. However, according to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIOED) the total number of cases received up till June 30 was 10,285 while 8,015 cases were disposed of with a total of 6,464 people traced so far and 1,551 cases disposed of.
These disappearances are often attributed to state forces, including the military and intelligence agencies, although the authorities consistently deny such allegations.
In Balochistan, where the issue of missing persons is particularly pronounced, local leaders and families of the disappeared have been vocal in their demands for justice. According to Marang Baloch, a prominent Baloch political leader, the province has witnessed the enforced disappearance of thousands of individuals over the years, many of whom were activists, students, or journalists advocating for greater autonomy for Balochistan. “The state is using enforced disappearances as a tool to suppress our people, silence dissent, and stifle the struggle for our rights,” Baloch stated during a recent demonstration in Quetta. The Baloch community has long accused the state of operating with impunity, citing the widespread abductions of political activists and young students who are involved in peaceful protests or calls for Baloch autonomy.
Families of missing persons have been fighting for justice for years, organizing protests and demonstrations to raise awareness about the issue. In many cases, these demonstrations have been met with violence or indifference from the state. One of the most significant events in recent years occurred in 2017 when the families of missing persons gathered outside the Quetta Press Club to demand answers. The protest, led by the Baloch National Front, highlighted the plight of thousands of missing individuals and called for an independent investigation into the disappearances. The protests often involve women and children who have been left in limbo, searching for their loved ones, some of whom have been gone for years.
In addition to the protests in Balochistan, similar demonstrations have taken place across the country, particularly in Islamabad and Karachi, where families of missing persons have gathered outside government buildings and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) offices, demanding accountability. The situation has sparked global outrage, with organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch calling on the Pakistani government to end the practice of enforced disappearances and hold those responsible accountable.
The legal battle for the missing persons has been ongoing for years, with little progress. Activists such as Eman Mazari, a well-known human rights lawyer, have taken up the cause of missing persons, representing their families in courts and filing petitions for their release. However, despite efforts by human rights lawyers and various local courts, the cases have largely remained stagnant. During the tenure of Justice (Retired) Javed Iqbal as head of the Missing Persons Commission, there was little progress in resolving these cases. In fact, many families expressed their disappointment with the Commission’s lack of action and its failure to hold anyone accountable.
Justice (Retired) Javed Iqbal, while initially seen as a potential force for change, failed to make meaningful strides in addressing the missing persons issue. Under his leadership, the Missing Persons Commission made little progress in investigating individual cases or prosecuting those responsible. This lack of tangible results has only fueled the frustration of families and activists, who have been left to wonder whether there is any real intention to resolve the issue.
In 2021, a group of human rights lawyers, including Eman Mazari, filed petitions in the Supreme Court of Pakistan demanding action on the missing persons cases. In a landmark hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhel remarked, “There is a law in place, and enforced disappearances are a crime. If someone has committed a crime, they should be tried. Otherwise, they must be released.” His statement echoed the growing disillusionment with the authorities’ unwillingness to address the issue in a meaningful way.
Despite such strong statements, progress in the courts has been minimal. In some cases, the courts have been slow to hear petitions, and the lack of a formal tribunal for missing persons has created significant legal hurdles. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, another key figure in the legal battle, emphasized that creating a specialized tribunal for missing persons cases would require legal amendments. The Additional Attorney General responded that the cabinet committee was already working on the necessary legislative reforms. However, for many families, these discussions feel like a stalling tactic, with no concrete action being taken.
International human rights organizations have also been outspoken on the issue of missing persons in Pakistan. Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Pakistani government to put an end to enforced disappearances and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. “The practice of enforced disappearances is a blatant violation of human rights, and the Pakistani government must take immediate steps to end this practice,” stated an Amnesty International spokesperson in a report released in 2020. Human Rights Watch has similarly condemned the disappearances, calling them a serious human rights violation that undermines the rule of law in Pakistan.
The international community has also voiced concern about the lack of accountability for these disappearances. The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has called on Pakistan to take stronger action to address the issue. The Working Group has highlighted that Pakistan is one of the countries with the highest number of enforced disappearances, and the lack of effective investigations has contributed to the continuing crisis.
Locally, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of missing persons. HRCP has consistently called on the government to ensure that the Missing Persons Commission functions effectively and that the state takes full responsibility for investigating disappearances. In 2021, HRCP released a report that documented over 6,000 cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan alone, many of which remain unresolved.
The Pakistani government, while acknowledging the issue, has been slow to take concrete action. Despite the establishment of the Missing Persons Commission, many believe that the state has been unwilling to take responsibility for the disappearances or pursue meaningful investigations. The government has faced increasing criticism from both local and international human rights organizations for its failure to resolve the issue.
In response to the growing pressure, the government has promised to take action. With the appointment of Justice (Retired) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar as head of the Missing Persons Commission, there is hope that the issue will be addressed more effectively. However, the challenges remain formidable. Legal reforms are necessary, and the creation of a specialized tribunal for missing persons cases is a key recommendation from experts. Without these reforms, the likelihood of real progress remains uncertain.
The issue of missing persons in Pakistan continues to be a grave and unresolved crisis, with thousands of individuals still unaccounted for. Despite years of legal battles, advocacy, and protests, the families of the disappeared remain in limbo, awaiting justice and answers. The new leadership of the Missing Persons Commission offers a glimmer of hope, but much work remains to be done. The government must take immediate action to investigate these cases, ensure accountability, and guarantee that the victims of enforced disappearances are brought home.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.