AGP Mansoor Awan vows to reunite missing persons

The Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) has pledged to the Islamabad High Court that all individuals who have reportedly been forcibly disappeared will be reunited with their families. AGP Mansoor Awan, representing the state and law enforcement agencies, has committed to ensuring the safe return of every missing person to their loved ones. He mentioned that a ministerial committee on enforced disappearances has put forward recommendations, which will be discussed in the upcoming cabinet committee meeting for a political resolution.

During the court proceedings, concerns were raised about the lack of concrete progress in addressing the issue of missing persons despite the formation of various committees. Specific cases, such as those of Feroz Ahmed and Naeem, were highlighted to illustrate the emotional turmoil faced by families due to these disappearances.

The AGP acknowledged previous delays in complying with court orders and requested detailed information from the petitioner's counsel regarding missing persons. A three-member committee, comprising directors of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Military Intelligence (MI), has been established to coordinate efforts in identifying and recovering missing individuals.

To overcome administrative challenges in coordination, the court has permitted the involvement of senior officials from law enforcement agencies like ISI, MI, and IB, as well as officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The AGP assured that significant steps are being taken at the highest levels to address this longstanding issue, with plans to share the cabinet's recommendations with the court for further progress.

The assurance given by the AGP to the Islamabad High Court regarding the safe return of missing persons reflects a positive step towards resolving the issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan. The commitment to reunite every missing individual with their families and the establishment of a committee to coordinate recovery efforts signify a concerted effort to address this pressing concern. By involving key law enforcement agencies and sharing recommendations for political resolution, the authorities are demonstrating a proactive approach to tackling this sensitive issue.