The body Syed Kefyat Hussain, 20, was buried in a local graveyard on Alamdar Road in the provincial capital. Kefyat, the son of a schoolteacher, had wanted to go to Australia in search of better economic opportunities.
“Seventy to 90 people hailing from Quetta were onboard when the boat, bound for Australia, capsized near Java in Indonesia. But, unfortunately, after waiting for 50 days, we have received only one body,” said Mohammad Zaman, a relative of the deceased.
Most of those missing belong to the persecuted Hazara community of Quetta.
According to Pakistani officials, survivors who claim to be Pakistani nationals do not possess valid travel documents and own Afghan passports. This, they say, is making it difficult to identify the bodies.
Faisal Naeem, assistance director for relief activities at Balochistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority, said that most bodies are mutilated beyond recognition. “Hazara community elders have informed us that about 90 people from Quetta are among those missing but only 42 families have approached the cell established to cooperate for bringing back bodies.” Half of the families submitted fake computerised national identity cards and are Afghan nationals thus making it tough for officials to bring back bodies, he said.
He said that it would be incorrect to say that the Balochistan government isn’t cooperating with the Hazara community. “The government is in contact with Pakistan’s ambassador in Indonesia. Also, it was the government that sent a delegation of Hazara elders to Indonesia.”
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@Amjad: You should have some respect for these people. No one likes to leave their homes unless for a very good reason. If Quetta was a safe place this would not have happened. I wish peace to return to Quetta. Meanwhile keep your ignorant thoughts to yourself.
I feel sorry for the families of the people lost in this tragic incident. Being from Quetta myslef I know these people were fleeing persecution. It is not as if they had a choice. Search for Hazara target killings on the internet and you will get to know the scale of the problem. Here is the most recent incident, and yes they were Hazaras....http://tribune.com.pk/story/327118/fia-inspector-tv-actor-killed-in-quetta/
Live in Quetta and slowly see the place become more like Afghanistan is not an option for everyone.
I think it would be only humane to let the deceased be buried in the land of their dreams- namely Australia. They were too eager to smuggle themselves to that country for asylum so the government should petition Australia to grant these men their last wishes.