Recommendations for lawmakers: Commission on missing persons finalises report

Commission will be recommending necessary legislation in laws dealing with missing persons.

ISLAMABAD: The commission of inquiry on enforced disappeared (CIED) is set to present its final report to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani by the end of this week, recommending necessary legislation in laws dealing with missing persons, it has been learnt.

The commission was formulated by the government on May 10, 2010 with Justice (retd) Kamal Mansoor Alam as chairman of the commission while Justice (retd) Fazul-ur-Rehman and Justice (retd) Nasira Iqbal are other members.

“The commission, after detailed deliberations, has suggested in its findings to the government to amend the laws empowering law enforcement agencies in dealing with terrorists, pursuing the cases of missing persons in the state,” source close to the development told The Express Tribune.

Justice (retd) Nasira Iqbal confirmed that the report has been finalised.

“It’s a secret report comprising of findings of intelligence agencies,” she said, adding “the Prime Minister has the authority to make it public.”

The commission has so far disposed of some 250 cases in which 116 missing persons were traced.

According to interior ministry officials, some seven traced persons belong to Islamabad while as many as 37 traced persons belong to Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2010.