Six Months After Killing, Javed Numbardar’s Name Still on Fourth Schedule, Family Faces Severe Hardships

Gilgit-Baltistan: More than six months have passed since the killing of Javed Numbardar, Vice Chairman of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit-Baltistan, yet his name continues to remain on the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, raising serious questions about administrative negligence and injustice.

Despite his death, the restrictions linked to the Fourth Schedule have not been lifted. As a result, Numbardar’s bank accounts remain frozen, leaving his family in extreme financial distress. According to family sources, his widow and his ailing son are struggling to meet basic needs, including access to medical treatment. The situation has been further aggravated by the denial of healthcare support, as the family has reportedly been unable to benefit from the government’s health card facility.

Maintaining legal and financial restrictions against a person who was killed over six months ago reflects a troubling lack of administrative oversight. Human rights observers argue that such actions go beyond bureaucratic delay and amount to institutional insensitivity, disproportionately punishing a bereaved family already coping with loss.

Legal experts note that once an individual is deceased, the continuation of surveillance and financial sanctions under counterterrorism laws has no legal or moral justification. They stress that authorities are obligated to promptly update official records and restore the legal rights of affected families.

The family of Javed Numbardar has appealed to the relevant authorities to immediately remove his name from the Fourth Schedule, unfreeze the bank accounts, and ensure access to healthcare and social welfare facilities. Civil society voices in Gilgit-Baltistan have also called for urgent intervention, urging the government to address what they describe as a clear case of administrative injustice.

So far, no official statement has been issued by the concerned departments regarding the delay.