Caretaker Human Rights Minister Khalil George has said that a committee on the issue of missing persons is in the works, adding that government was “thoroughly” looking into the matter. The human rights minister made the remarks in an interview with a private TV channel on Sunday night.
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had directed interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to appear before the court on November 29 (Wednesday) if he did not secure the recovery of more than 50 allegedly missing Baloch students.
Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday had also hinted at summoning the caretaker prime minister if police and provincial administration could not make any progress in recovery of missing persons.
In an interview the minister said, “The prime minister is planning a committee on missing persons with the interior minister and other ministers so the issue can be fully analysed. Such as where are the missing persons, how many there are and what is their status.”
He said the details regarding the finalisation of the committee were under way. However, the minister said that the government’s stance was that the number of missing persons was not as high as some claimed.
George said the government was “thoroughly” looking into the matter and the committee would investigate the details of those who were missing. At the same time, he said that the committee’s terms of references (TORs) had not yet been drafted, adding that its mandate would be determined once this was done.
Questioned if the committee would really be able to solve the problem, the human rights minister said every committee formulated tried its best to discharge its responsibility.
“Obviously, according to Pakistan’s laws, a citizen is the responsibility of the state and the state is well aware of this […]. Let’s see what the committee does. I have complete trust in the committee, that it will do its job.”
In an interview on Saturday night, PM Kakar had addressed the issue of missing Baloch students, stating that he would not be appearing in the IHC due to other commitments and the government would offer representation at the appropriate platform when feasible. He explained the circumstances of the students’ disappearance and emphasised the government’s “purported lack of involvement”.
“State has no hand in these disappearances. Most times, the security forces pick up the people who’re involved in activities which are against the law,” he said.
