New Delhi: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Human Rights Riaz Pirzada has claimed that some of the missing persons in the country were engaged with former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav or by neighbouring nations to spread unrest, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) reported.


“Some of these missing persons have been killed in terrorist activities, who were engaged by Kulbhushan Jadhav or neighbouring countries,” the news agency quoted Pirzada as saying.


“The Indian spy Kulbushan had exploited the poor people and used them to spread terror in the country,” Pirzada added.


Jadhav has been detained by Pakistan since 2016 after he was kidnapped from Iran.


Pakistan has, however, alleged that he is an Indian spy and was involved in subversive activities in the country.


The Federal Minister for Human Rights’ remarks come at a time when the issue of missing persons has been raised in the Pakistani courts and authorities are being asked to present the in-custody persons, who have been picked up for their alleged or suspicion of allegiance or being party to anti-state activities.


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Questioning the existence of Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, the Islamabad High Court has called it a liability and an entity, which has failed to justify its position.


Pirzada defended the security forces for their actions against the missing persons and taking into custody people on suspicion of alleged involvement in anti-state activities.


Asserting the security forces do needful actions despite uproar over the issue, the minister said: “The security forces swung into action after terrorist incidents in Quetta, Balochistan. There has been criticism when the state forces take actions.”


“People start protesting and missing persons issue gets surfaced,” he added.


The Federal Minister for Human Rights revealed that many of the missing persons, who he said had been lured into working with anti-state forces through the temptation of money and monetary support, have either been killed or taken asylum in neighbouring nations, including Iran, Afghanistan and India.


Earlier in 2011, the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was established to trace the missing persons and fix responsibility on the individuals or organizations responsible for it.


However, only one third of the missing persons have returned home since 2011.


The families of the missing persons have demanded a fair trial to their loved ones.