Enforced disappearance ordinance gazetted with death penalty

The President has promulgated the ‘Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance, 2025’, introducing the death penalty and life imprisonment for enforced disappearance cases. The ordinance was gazetted by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law on Monday night (1 December), following final approval of the draft by the Advisory Council on 6 November.

Under the ordinance, district- and divisional-level tribunals will be formed to prevent and address enforced disappearances. Offences under this law are non-bailable and non-compoundable.

The law defines enforced disappearance as acts in which a government employee or law enforcement official arrests, detains, abducts, or deprives a person of their freedom and then denies the act or conceals the individual’s whereabouts, condition, or fate, thereby depriving them of legal protection. Those found guilty may face life imprisonment or imprisonment of up to 10 years.

If the enforced disappearance results in death, or the person remains missing for over five years, the offender may face the death penalty or life imprisonment. Additionally, individuals who destroy evidence of enforced disappearance or establish, construct, or use secret detention centres for such purposes may face seven years in prison.