Kidnapped in Romania
A campaign should also be launched which highlights the danger of illegally crossing borders
Up to 15 Pakistanis headed for Germany have been kidnapped for ransom in Romania where they are facing possible torture or even the prospect of starvation by their captors.
The families of the abducted men told reporters at Swat Press Club that they feared for the lives of their loved ones and appealed to the government to take action to save them. The practice of kidnapping migrants headed to Europe has started to increase over the past year. In January this year, Turkish police rescued six Pakistani expatriates who were abducted for ransom by human smugglers in Istanbul.
Then in March, three Pakistanis who were abducted for ransom in Turkey were released by their kidnappers after 23 days in captivity. In both these cases, the abducted Pakistanis were subjected to brutal torture by their captors. It seems that Pakistani migrants are a preferred target for these criminal gangs. One can only wonder how many more Pakistanis will share the same fate in the coming days.
Kidnapping of Pakistanis abroad is nothing new. In the past, it took a joint effort coordinated by the Sindh governor to bring back a number of Pakistan crew members who were being held hostage by Somali pirates. The effort was led by a local NGO which established contact and help with the payment of ransom.
For its part, the government needs to do more to discourage its citizens going to the West through illegal routes with the help of human traffickers. It is believed that it is the same traffickers who abandon these migrants midway and this gives an opportunity to gangs to kidnap them. Recently, action was taken against those involved in human trafficking.
Tougher measures should be taken again to ensure that these unscrupulous elements are not given the opportunity to dupe innocent people. A campaign should also be launched which highlights the danger of illegally crossing borders. Finally, efforts should be made by the relevant Pakistan Embassy to negotiate the release of those held captive in Romania.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2017.
The families of the abducted men told reporters at Swat Press Club that they feared for the lives of their loved ones and appealed to the government to take action to save them. The practice of kidnapping migrants headed to Europe has started to increase over the past year. In January this year, Turkish police rescued six Pakistani expatriates who were abducted for ransom by human smugglers in Istanbul.
Then in March, three Pakistanis who were abducted for ransom in Turkey were released by their kidnappers after 23 days in captivity. In both these cases, the abducted Pakistanis were subjected to brutal torture by their captors. It seems that Pakistani migrants are a preferred target for these criminal gangs. One can only wonder how many more Pakistanis will share the same fate in the coming days.
Kidnapping of Pakistanis abroad is nothing new. In the past, it took a joint effort coordinated by the Sindh governor to bring back a number of Pakistan crew members who were being held hostage by Somali pirates. The effort was led by a local NGO which established contact and help with the payment of ransom.
For its part, the government needs to do more to discourage its citizens going to the West through illegal routes with the help of human traffickers. It is believed that it is the same traffickers who abandon these migrants midway and this gives an opportunity to gangs to kidnap them. Recently, action was taken against those involved in human trafficking.
Tougher measures should be taken again to ensure that these unscrupulous elements are not given the opportunity to dupe innocent people. A campaign should also be launched which highlights the danger of illegally crossing borders. Finally, efforts should be made by the relevant Pakistan Embassy to negotiate the release of those held captive in Romania.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2017.