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Wednesday, February 19, 2025  
20 Shaban 1446  

Pakistani survivors say Morocco boat incident was massacre not accident

A four-member team has been formed to investigate the incident

A four-member Pakistani government investigative team in Morocco has recorded initial statements from Pakistani survivors of a recent boat tragedy, revealing harrowing details that suggest a massacre rather than a simple accident.

The survivors allege that smugglers intentionally stranded the boat in open waters and demanded ransoms. Those who could pay were released, while those who could not were allegedly beaten with hammers and thrown overboard.

According to sources close to the investigation, the survivors recounted a horrific ordeal marked by extreme cold, violence, and starvation. At least 21 Pakistani passengers were released after paying ransoms, while the fate of the others remains unclear. The survivors claim that the majority of those who perished succumbed to the harsh weather conditions and the violence inflicted upon them.

The Pakistani government dispatched the four-person team, including representatives from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Intelligence Bureau, following instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The team is investigating the incident, which sources indicate was orchestrated by an international human trafficking ring involving smugglers from Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco.

The survivors’ accounts paint a grim picture of the events leading up to and following the boat’s stranding, suggesting a deliberate act of violence rather than an accidental maritime incident. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the Pakistani team continues its work in Morocco.

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