Pakistan announces financial assistance for families of 'missing persons'

​​​​​​​By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan announced Friday that Rs 5 million ($18,000) will be given to families of missing persons across the country.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the financial assistance package was approved in a Cabinet meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the nation’s capital of Islamabad.

He said in the first phase, the government will provide Rs 5 million to 1,000 families of the more than 2,000 registered cases

"We will also provide legal and financial assistance to the heirs of missing persons and it will be not reclaimed if a person is reunited with his family," he told reporters.

The prime minister ordered homework on taking relief and legislative measures, which include instructions to relevant authorities to take care of issues pertaining to missing person’s bank accounts and inheritance.

The Defence of Human Rights (DHR), a non-governmental organization working on the issue of enforced disappearances, said there are 2,273 missing person cases registered in Pakistan.

Relatives and Human Rights activists have accused intelligence agencies of arresting and disappearing people from Balochistan and other parts of the country, however, defense authorities have always denied the allegations.

Tarar said finger-pointing is usually made toward the intelligence agencies but it was noted in a final report presented before the Cabinet that intelligence agencies have also extended positive cooperation.

"The intelligence agencies also want that the issue of missing persons should be resolved amicably under a legal framework," he said.