The Interior Minister of Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to initiate a nationwide crackdown on human smuggling networks, following Pakistani nationals lost their lives while attempting to enter Europe illegally by boat, according to a report by The News International.
Naqvi emphasized the urgent need to dismantle the criminal networks, which have responsible for devastating families.
Following instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a committee chaired by the additional secretary of the Ministry of Interior has been formed to investigate the tragedy. The committee is required to complete its investigation and submit a report within five days.
Notably, at least five migrants drowned when their wooden boat capsized off southern Greece island of Gavdos, according to the coastguard on Saturday. Witnesses reported that many others remain missing as search operations continued. So far 39 men — most of them from Pakistan — have been rescued by cargo ships sailing in the area. They have been transferred to the island of Crete, the coastguard noted, adding that the number of those missing had not yet been confirmed, as reported by The News International.
After the tragedy, President Asif Ali Zardari in a statement condemned human trafficking as a “heinous practice” that causes significant suffering. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
PM Sharif also extended his condolences for the loss of Pakistani lives in the tragic boat capsizing.
PM Sharif called human smuggling as a horrific crime that destroys severals lives each year. He emphasized the importance of strict punishments and effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Sharif also stated that the deceptive tactics were used by smuggling network to get money by making false promises, as reported by The News International.
On June 14, 2023, a boat carrying an around 750 people, mostly from Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt, capsized and sank in open waters off Greece. Of the total passengers, 104 managed to survive while the bodies of 82 victims were recovered.