Commission on missing persons begins hearing on May 2

LAHORE: The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CoIoED) will hold hearings in cases of missing persons pertaining to Punjab from May 2 to May 12.

CoIoED President Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal will head the inquiries. As per letter number NO.SO (Jud-IV) 9-PTF/2017 by the government of Punjab, the Provincial Police Officer and the Additional Secretary (Transport), Services & General Administration (S& GA) Department, Punjab, have been asked to make arrangements in this regard.

During the hearings, representatives of different civil and military security forces will ensure their presence and assist the commission in its working. This is a regular practice in conformity with the mandate of the Commission that expects all stakeholders including ministries of interior, defence, law & human rights in the federal government, all provincial governments, armed forces-law enforcement agencies and Frontier Corps to sit together and evolve a comprehensive mechanism to eliminate forced disappearances. The statement is prominently mentioned on the commission’s website www.coioed.pk.

Faisal Manzoor, Assistant Registrar ColoED, said, “All stakeholders and departments concerned will be present in the hearing. Twelve or 13 cases on missing persons will be heard on a daily basis.”