ISLAMABAD; The federal government on Friday established a special committee to provide legal assistance to families of missing persons, according to an official press release. The committee will support families whose cases are under investigation by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIOED), particularly in matters related to family law.
The COIOED, established in 2011, aims to trace missing persons and hold accountable the individuals or organizations responsible. During the first half of 2025, the commission received 125 new cases of enforced disappearances.
“The families of missing persons facing issues—especially related to the National Database and Registration Authority, such as the issuance of Computerized National Identity Cards or Form-B for various purposes—may submit their grievances in writing to the Special Committee via any mode of communication, including email (coioed@gmail.com) or WhatsApp (0321-5101070), followed by submission of hard copies,” the press release stated.
Additionally, families can visit COIOED Islamabad and meet Assistant Registrar Saadia Rashid at the Directorate General Civil Defence Building on any working day to submit complaints and discuss their concerns.
On Saturday, Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah highlighted the challenges faced by judges in handling cases of missing persons and enforced disappearances, citing non-cooperation from the state and lawmakers as a major hurdle.
According to COIOED, as of June 2025, a total of 10,592 cases had been registered, of which 1,914 were disposed of and 6,786 individuals were successfully traced.
Last year, the government announced a Rs5 million support package per family of missing persons, providing both legal and financial assistance, as confirmed by the Law Minister.
