Islamabad – June 25, 2025: The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED) has registered 125 new cases of missing persons during the first six months of 2025, according to official data released this week. The total number of pending cases now stands at 2,274, sparking fresh concerns from human rights organizations over the persistent issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan.
The data also revealed that 54 cases were disposed of during the same period, underscoring the slow pace of resolution in longstanding disappearance cases.
Regional Breakdown of Disappearances
The commission’s report outlines the following regional distribution for newly reported cases:
- Balochistan: 53
- Sindh: 26
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): 21
- Islamabad Capital Territory: 12
- Punjab: 8
- Azad Jammu & Kashmir: 3
- Gilgit-Baltistan: 2
Balochistan continues to report the highest number of missing person cases, with families often alleging state agency involvement, a claim repeatedly denied by official quarters.
Slow Progress Despite Court Orders
Despite Supreme Court directives and pressure from rights groups, progress in locating the missing or prosecuting responsible parties remains limited. Many families have spent years petitioning courts and commissions without resolution.
“This commission continues to operate without meaningful accountability or transparency,” said a spokesperson from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). “Victims’ families deserve justice, not just numbers.”
Commission’s Performance in Question
Since its establishment in 2011, COIED has received over 10,500 cases, of which more than 8,000 have reportedly been disposed of. However, rights groups dispute this figure, claiming many of these cases are either closed without satisfactory investigation or marked resolved when victims return under unclear circumstances.
Calls for Legal and Institutional Reform
Human rights activists continue to demand:
- A comprehensive law criminalizing enforced disappearance
- Parliamentary oversight of intelligence and security agencies
- Transparent investigations and public reporting of findings
- Inclusion of victims’ families in proceedings
The federal government has made repeated assurances of addressing the issue, yet no legislation has been passed despite draft bills being submitted in recent years.
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