Story highlights

• PM Shehbaz orders inquiry and forms a four-member committee
• Pakistanis were forced into the lower deck of migrant boat: reports
• At least 10 trafficking suspects arrested
• Foreign Office releases names of 12 survivors
• NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf demands action against human smugglers
• UN demands urgent action

A boat that capsized off the coast of Greece last week was carrying around 800 people, according to an initial investigation by police, which declared a national day of mourning on Monday.

Pakistani authorities said they had arrested 14 suspects in connection with the alleged trafficking of migrants and police said they were searching for other suspects.

A statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said the Pakistani government had ordered a high-level inquiry into the human trafficking network thought to be involved.

National flags were at half-mast on all official buildings on Monday in Pakistan, which was home to some of those who drowned last week.

The police report, available with Reuters, said one of those arrested had admitted to sending three men onto the boat, which had a capacity for 300-350 people, and had charged them each up to Rs3 million ($10,452.96).

The assessment 800 people were on board came from initial investigations, police officer Riaz Mughal said.

“We learned from two survivors, the arrested suspects, and the bereaved families that the boat was carrying around 750 to 800 people,” Mughal told Reuters.

Witness accounts had placed the number on board at between 400 and 750 people and Greek authorities have said 104 survivors and 81 bodies have been brought ashore.

One of the suspects arrested in Pakistan said his own son had been on the boat and was missing, the report said.

It also said the main suspect behind a smuggling network spanning Libya, Pakistan, and Greece, was based in Libya.

Mughal said at least 21 of those who died last week came from the Kotli district in the Pakistani-administered part of the Himalayan Kashmir region, from which people have left for Europe for many years.

Senior Regional Police Officer Tahir Mahmood, based in Muzaffarabad, Kashmir’s capital, said the police were hunting further suspects in addition to those arrested. He did not specify how many.

DNA samples

In order to identify the bodies, authorities in Pakistan have started collecting DNA samples from the victim families.

Camp offices has been established in Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and other necessary locations, while also identifying and disseminating information regarding suitable places for DNA sampling.

Assisting the families and relatives of the passengers in obtaining DNA samples, according to the parameters specified by the Embassy of Pakistan in Greece, is another responsibility of the coordination cell.

Furthermore, it will coordinate with the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) to prepare DNA reports and facilitate their transmission to Greece.

The Ministry of Interior has also set up a coordination cell in its control room to provide updates and information regarding the victims of the tragic boat incident in Greece.

Control room established

A control room has been established in the interior ministry for information related to the Greece boat accident, which will coordinate between Greece and Pakistan, said a notification.

Places would be determined for DNA samples to verify the heirs of the deceased and facilities would be provided to the families of the victims for DNA, it added.

The notification said that separate camps would be set up in Islamabad and AJK.

Agents in Gujranwala charged Rs2.3 million from victim: FIA

The Federal Investigation Agency arrested a suspect from Gujrat in its crackdown against human trafficking agents in the wake of the Greece boat tragedy.

In a statement, FIA Additional Director Qaiser Bashir Makhdoom said that the suspect, Bashir charged Rs2.3 million from a victim for sending them abroad.

The agency has claimed that further arrests would be made against the agents involved in the disaster.

Meanwhile, the FIA registered three cases in Gujrat and another in Gujranwala based on the statements of the survivors as many affected families refuse to file complaints.

The case in Gujranwala was lodged on the complaint of Javed Iqbal, the brother of survivor Azmat Khan. At least five suspects have been named in it, including Asif Sanyara, Rashta, Rana Naqash, Nadeem Aslam, and Muhammad Aslam.

Moreover, at least 12 suspects were named in Gujrat cases.

Relatives of at least 56 Pakistanis have said that their loved ones were on board the sinking boat, according to details gathered by Aaj News from different journalists.

As per initial reports, most of them belonged to different districts of AJK and Punjab.

NA speaker urges govt to take action against human smuggling

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf expressed deep concern over the Greece boat tragedy and the issue of human smuggling, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

“The tragic sinking of the ship has left the entire nation devastated and grieving,” he said in his statement during the session of the National Assembly on Monday. “With heavy hearts, Pakistanis mourn the loss of lives and express their condolences to the affected families. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by individuals seeking a better future.”

The speaker called for immediate action to hold those responsible for exploiting innocent people accountable for their actions.

Ashraf emphasised the urgency of the situation and the need for the government to take swift action. He stressed that those involved in exploiting vulnerable individuals in the guise of employment should face the full extent of the law.

He urged the government to ensure that appropriate punishment is meted out to the culprits, sending a strong message that such heinous activities would not be tolerated.

The speaker called upon all members of the National Assembly to play an active role in advocating for their respective constituents. He urged them to discourage and raise awareness among the people about the dangers of engaging in human smuggling, emphasising the severe harm it inflicted on Pakistani citizens.

“The government bears a significant responsibility to combat this grave issue,” he said and stressed the need for implementing strict measures to deter individuals involved in human smuggling. “Immediate and decisive action is crucial to prevent future incidents and safeguard the lives of Pakistanis.”

National day of mourning

Pakistan is observing a ‘Day of Mourning’ on Monday in the wake of the Greece boat tragedy, which killed dozens of Pakistanis, but the Foreign Office said it still did not have a full picture of how many people from the country were aboard the ill-fated ship.

“The National Flag of Pakistan shall fly on half-mast throughout the country on 19th June 2023,” said a statement issued by the PM Office on Sunday.

There were likely dozens of Pakistanis among those aboard the rusty trawler that sank off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula on June 14, killing at least 78 people with hundreds more missing.

However, a statement from Foreign Office said on Monday that there was still no confirmed information about how many Pakistanis were aboard the vessel. However, the FO added the number could be in the hundreds. FO also said that the 12 Pakistanis who were confirmed to have survived were in contact with Pakistani authorities.

The FO spokesperson also said that a helpline had been set up to allow families of victims to contact and hundreds of families had contacted authorities already. The spokesperson also added that apart from the Greek authorities’ own investigation with Interpol, the FIA was conducting its own investigation in Pakistan.

Key suspects arrested

FIA’s anti-human trafficking circle made a big breakthrough on Monday as one of the key suspects involved in the Greece boat tragedy was arrested.

The travel agent, identified as Waqas, had taken over 2 million rupees to send a man to Europe.

Earlier, Sajid Mahmood, a man wanted in connection with the boat tragedy was also offloaded at Karachi airport and taken into custody.

So far, a total of 12 human smugglers have been arrested.

Inquiry committee formed

The prime minister has constituted a four-member inquiry committee in the wake of the incident.

National Police Bureau Director Ehsan Sadiq is the chairman. The committee further comprises Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Africa) Additional Secretary Javed Ahmad Umrani, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police Region Poonch DIG Sardar Zaheer Ahmad, and Federal Investigation Agency Joint Secretary Faisal Nisar Ch.

The inquiry committee would submit its report within one week.

What the committee will do?

• Ascertain facts of the Greece boat tragedy
• Identify loopholes and lapses in the legal/enforcement mechanism in Pakistan that exposed precious human lives to the vagaries of human trafficking in this particular case and similar incidents in the past.
• Analyse similar past incidents and actions taken
• To take stock of the existing legal framework, enforcement measures (in the country), and international coordination to prevent, control, and punish human smuggling
• To prepare short-and long-term recommendations (including legislation, enforcement measures, awareness campaigns, and improvement of national and international coordination) to apprehend agents, facilitators, masterminds, and rackets and for the eradication of the menace of human trafficking

The premier has also directed the Foreign Office to undertake coordination at all levels to collect information about the missing people and keep the nation updated.

“I assure the nation that those found negligent towards their duty will be held to account. Responsibility will be fixed after the inquiry and heads will roll,” said PM Shehbaz

11 suspects arrested for human trafficking

Pakistan authorities arrested 10 alleged human traffickers days after dozens of migrants drowned off the coast of Greece, officials said on Sunday.

PM Shehbaz also ordered an immediate crackdown on agents engaged in people smuggling, saying they would be “severely punished”.

Every year, thousands of young Pakistanis embark on perilous journeys attempting to enter Europe illegally in search of a better life.

Officials said nine people had been detained in AJK – home to a majority of the victims – and one in Gujrat, a city that has long served as a springboard for migrants.

“They are presently under investigation for their involvement in facilitating the entire process,” said Chaudhary Shaukat, a local official from AJK.

Salman Sufi, head of PM’s Strategic Reforms, tweeted after Saturday midnight that the FIA arrested a suspect central to the human trafficking ring after he was trying to escape the country. The arrest was made in Karachi.

Another human trafficking suspect was arrested from Sheikhupura, the FIA spokesperson said on Sunday and added that a case was registered against him.

The suspect was named Talha Shahzeb, who received money from the victims’ families and received a total of Rs3.5 million.

In a joint statement, the International Organization for Migration and UN Refugee Agency said between 400 to 750 people were believed to be aboard the ferry.

On Saturday, the foreign affairs ministry said 12 nationals had survived, but they had no information on how many were aboard the boat.

An immigration official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the figure could surpass 200.

“The prime minister has given a firm directive to intensify efforts in combating individuals involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking,” his office said in a statement.

A combination of political turmoil and an economy on the brink of collapse drives tens of thousands of Pakistanis to leave the country – legally and illegally.

Young men, primarily from eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, often use a route through Iran, Libya, Turkey, and Greece to unlawfully enter Europe.

Dozens of Pakistanis missing

Dozens of youths from Pakistan went missing after a boat packed with migrants capsized off the coast of Greece.

Mirpur’s Commissioner Chaudhry Shaukat Ali said on Saturday that around 50 young men from AJK were missing after the accident.

They belonged to the Kotli area of the region, he said in a statement, and claimed that they left the country three months ago.

An overloaded boat sank in open seas off Greece on June 14. Around 750 people on board, according to a European rescue support charity.

Earlier in the day, the foreign affairs said that at least 12 Pakistanis were among the survivors.

“At this stage, we are unable to verify the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased,” ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a tweet.

People seeking missing relatives were urged to share with the ministry identity documents and DNA reports from authenticated laboratories, she said.

Over 40 men from Gujranwala missing

Aaj News reported that men from multiple villages of Gujranwala were also missing after the migrant boat capsized off the Greek coast.

Reports said that 22 men were from the Nowshera Virkan, 10 from Karyal Kallan, four from Bhakranwali, two from Melu Virkan, two from Nathu Sewyan, two from Khan Muslman, and one each from Chak Pakhar and Mangogi are missing.

The men had gone to Italy via Libya in the hope of a better future. Their families are praying for their safety and demanding that the government provide information about their whereabouts.

Names of survivors

• Muhammad Adnan Bashir S/o Muhammad Bashir, District Kotli
• Haseeb Ur Rehman S/o Habib ur Rehman, District Kotli
• Muhammad Hamza S/o Abdul Ghafoor, District Gujranwala
• Azmat Khan S/o Muhammad Saleeho, District Gujrat
• Muhammad Sunny S/o Farooq Ahmed District Sheikhupura
• Zahid Akbar S/o Akbar Ali District Sheikhupura
• Mehtab Ali S/o Muhammad Ashraf, District Mandi Bahauddin
• Rana Husnain S/o Rana Naseer Ahmad District Sialkot
• Usman Siddique S/o Muhammad Siddique, District Gujrat
• Zeeshan Sarwar S/o Ghulam Sarwar, District Gujranwala
• Irfan Ahmed S/o Shafi (hospitalised)
• Imran Arain S/o Maqbool (hospitalised)

One of the survivors of the shipwreck off the Greek coast told Secunder Kermani of Channel 4 News that the ship “did capsize” shortly after the coastguard tried to attach a rope to it.

“There were around 750 people onboard. Approximately, 400 Pakistanis, 200 Egyptians, and 150 Syrians – including around two dozen Syrian women and young children,” he said. Most of those who survived had been on the top of the boat - like he was.

FIA seeks information on perpetrators

The FIA appealed on Saturday to those having “information pertaining to the perpetrators and facilitators (agents/human traffickers)” involved in the shipwreck to inform the agency.

“Any citizen having information pertaining to the perpetrators and facilitators (agents/human traffickers) of the horrific boat capsizing incident in Greece — including information about anyone who may have any involvement in sending abroad one or more of the victims of the said incident — […] are requested to share the information with the following officers of FIA Islamabad (ICT, Rawalpindi Division, Gujrat and Lahore),” the agency tweeted.

The post added that shared phone numbers and names of the officials at the said FIA offices along with their posts, as well as each branch’s email addresses.

“The names of citizens sharing the information will be kept strictly confidential,” it added.

NA speaker calls for action against human smugglers

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf urged the government to “immediately” investigate the capsizing of a fishing boat that killed at least 78 people including Pakistanis.

Convening a session of the NA on Saturday, Ashraf urged the government to take immediate notice and action against the human smugglers, adding that those involved in the “heinous act should be given an exemplary punishment”.

Reactions

“My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate ferry disaster in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the Pakistan Embassy in Athens was in constant contact with the local authorities to facilitate Pakistanis in distress.

The death toll in Wednesday’s disaster could run to many hundreds as witness accounts suggested that between 400 and 750 people had packed the fishing boat that sank about 50 miles (80km) from the southern Greek town of Pylos.

Greek authorities have said 104 survivors and 78 bodies of the dead were brought ashore in the immediate aftermath. Hopes were fading of finding any more people alive.

Most of the people on board were from Egypt, Syria, and Pakistan, Greek government officials have said.

Many ‘belonged to Kashmir’

Muhammad Mubashir from the Kotli of Azad Kashmir told BBC Urdu on Friday that his uncle and a close relative left for Italy after Ramazan.

They planned to reach Libya from Pakistan and then Italy, Mubashir said, adding that he had been unable to contact his relative in Libya for the past two days.

He added that a number of people from the Kel sector in Kotli left in recent months in hopes of reaching Europe.

A British-Pakistani journa­list, Raja Faryad Khan, told the Urdu service of the British broadcaster that 16 people from his village in AJK could have been on the boat. Khan travelled from the UK to the Greek port city of Kalamata to meet his 22-year-old nephew Adnan Bashir, who was one of the survivors.

On Friday, the Pakistan Embassy in Greece requested Pakistanis who feared their relatives to be on the capsized boat to send DNA samples for the identification of the bodies.

A short tandem repeat DNA report of the parents or children of the missing person from a recognised laboratory, along with the missing person’s identity card or passport number should be sent to the Embassy’s email addr­ess, the statement added.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency have called for “urgent and decisive action” to prevent further deaths at sea following the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean, the worst in several years.

While the number of people onboard the boat is not clear, it is believed to have been somewhere between 400 and 750, according to various testimonies. So far 104 people have been rescued and 78 bodies retrieved, while hundreds remain missing, and feared dead.

UN demands urgent action after tragedy

Earlier on Friday, the United Nations called for in-depth investigations into the migrant boat sinking off Greece this week, believed to have left hundreds dead, and urgent action to prevent further tragedies.

On Wednesday, a fishing boat overloaded with migrants capsized and sank off the Peloponnese, killing at least 78 people. Around 104 people were found alive.

While the number of people on board at the time remains unclear, the UN pointed on Friday to various witness accounts suggesting it was somewhere between 400 and 750.

The UN agencies for refugees and migrants called in a joint statement for “urgent and decisive action to prevent further deaths at sea following the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean, the worst in several years”.

They insisted states had an obligation to come together to address the dangerous gaps in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, pointing out that “the duty to rescue people in distress at sea without delay is a fundamental rule of international maritime law”.

In particular, they rejected efforts to criminalise those who try to help in such situations, reiterating that “search and rescue at sea is a legal and humanitarian imperative”.

The agencies also insisted that search and rescue operations should always be conducted in a manner aimed to prevent loss of life at sea, and said they welcomed that an investigation had been ordered in Greece into the circumstances that eventually led to the boat capsizing.

The UN rights office meanwhile called for “thorough” investigations into the “horrific tragedy”.

Spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva there was a need to investigate “people smugglers and human traffickers and ensure they are brought to justice”, and that more broadly “there are a lot of questions that need to be asked”.

Federico Soda, head of the International Organization for Migration’s emergency department, said the tragedy once again showed the approach to migrant crossings in the Mediterranean needed to change.

“It is clear, that the current approach to the Mediterranean is unworkable,” he said in the statement.

“Year after year, it continues to be the most dangerous migration route in the world, with the highest fatality rate.”

UNHCR deputy chief Gillian Triggs also stressed the European Union’s obligation to “put safety and solidarity at the heart of its action in the Mediterranean”.

“In view of the increased movements of refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean, collective efforts, including greater coordination between all Mediterranean States, solidarity and responsibility sharing … are essential to save lives,” she said in the statement.

In March, thirty people went missing and 17 were rescued in the central Mediterranean after the boat in which they were travelling from Libya capsized in bad weather, Italy’s coastguard said.

The tragedy came just weeks after a February 26 shipwreck near the southern region of Calabria, in which at least 79 died.

Alarm Phone, a charity that picks up calls from migrant vessels in distress, assumed the 30 people were dead and blamed Italy for not sending its coastguard despite being repeatedly alerted on Saturday that the boat was in trouble.

(With input agencies)