Reposted from Express Tribune | July 4, 2012 | Committee formed to resolve issues of missing persons in Balochistan; Also see: Enforced disappearances: CJ says 95% of cases involve the FC; Express Tribune | May 11, 2012 | Enforced disappearances: Pressure builds on FC in missing persons' cases ; Also see: Salon | May 11, 2012 | The human rights detective

Law Minister Farooq H Naek, on the directives of the Prime Minister, has constituted a committee to resolve the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, where hundreds of people have gone missing in past four years.

Chief Secretary Balochistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad will head the committee which will give its detailed briefing to Ministry of Law and Justice on Friday July 6. Fateh will also update the committee on the views of disgruntled Baloch leaders who are being invited by the government to kick off negotiations addressing their concerns.

"We will formally hold an important meeting on Friday (July 6) to discuss all issues that is dialogue with Baloch leaders and missing persons," a senior official told The Express Tribune.

Chief Minister Balochistan Nawaz Aslam Raisani will also present his view points on resolve the chronic issue, the official said. Raisani assured the Law Minister of his full cooperation in formulating laws which would help keep check on enforcement agencies to stop enforced disappearances.

On Monday, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Naek held a meeting to discuss the legal matters to deal with the issue of missing persons. The government had decided to take up the issue of pick, kill and dump incidents on an emergency basis with reports of over 203 bullet-riddled dead bodies being found in various parts of Balochistan in 2011. By comparison, there were reports of only 103 such incidents in 2010.

"Supreme Court's orders on missing persons in Balochistan must be implemented in letter and spirit," stated an official release quoting Naek who presided Tuesday's meeting. The apex court has already ordered all law enforcement agencies to recover all missing persons in the troubled province. On Tuesday, Raisani also informed the participants that we are working on amending laws to define the role of the Frontier Constabulary, Levies and the Police.

Chief Secretary Balochistan also gave his input on the issue along with the Secretaries of Defence, Interior and Law, provincial inspector general FC, IG Police, advocate general and other high ranking officers of the concerned ministries. Intelligence Bureau chief Aftab Sultan, Inspector General FC Maj Gen Obaidullah Khan and the Inspector General of Police Balochistan Tariq Umar Khitab gave their input on the issue of missing persons.

Later Naek briefed the Prime Minister on Tuesday's meeting. Naek assured him that all the concerned officials have been directed to follow the instructions and guidelines issued to ensure compliance of Supreme Court's directives.