Justice (r) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah Appointed Chairperson of Enforced Disappearances Commission

The federal government has appointed Justice (Retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah as the new chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances. This decision comes as part of efforts to strengthen the commission and speed up the resolution of missing persons’ cases across Pakistan.

Since taking charge, Justice Shah has worked actively to resolve many cases. The commission has received 10,607 complaints so far. Out of these, 8,770 cases, or about 82%, have been closed by July 31, 2025. In just the month of July, after Justice Shah assumed office, the commission solved 70 cases and registered 15 new complaints.

One of the key steps under Justice Shah’s leadership is the introduction of a financial assistance package worth PKR five million for families of missing persons. He has held two meetings to finalize the recommendations for providing this support with the federal government.

Justice Shah also stressed the importance of having a clear and uniform policy to make investigations faster and more efficient. To push this forward, he visited cities like Lahore and Karachi. During these visits, he listened to over 50 cases of disappearances and discussed possible solutions with officials.

The commission now includes other members like Justice (Retd) Nazar Akbar from Sindh, retired judge Muhammad Bashir for Islamabad, and Justice (Retd) Syed Afsar Shah for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Justice Shah has met with interior secretaries and police chiefs from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Sindh, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He has urged all these regions to submit detailed reports quickly. These reports come from joint investigation teams and provincial task forces working on enforced disappearance cases.

The Attorney General of Pakistan has assured the court that all missing persons will be reunited with their families soon. Justice Shah’s appointment and ongoing work represent a fresh push to bring justice to affected families and improve transparency in these sensitive cases.