Dozens of Pakistanis still missing in Greece boat tragedy: envoy

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Greece Aamar Aftab Qureshi confirms the embassy will repatriate deceased nationals.

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Dozens of Pakistanis still missing in the aftermath of the boat accident in Greece, as confirmed by the Pakistani Ambassador.

In a press conference, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Greece, Aamar Aftab Qureshi, stated that the embassy will send the bodies of the Pakistani nationals who died in the incident back to Pakistan at its own expense.

He mentioned that many Pakistanis are still missing from the accident, and although the rescue operation is still ongoing at the accident site, hopes of finding survivors have been extinguished, Express News reported.

According to ambassador, five boats were carrying Pakistanis illegally from Libya, and the accident occurred due to the overcrowding of the boats. The boat carrying Pakistanis had a crack, causing it to sink. There were 80 Pakistanis aboard this boat.

The ambassador further revealed that a significant number of missing individuals were children.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that four Pakistanis were killed in the incident. The spokesperson confirmed their identities, and the Pakistani mission in Athens is coordinating with Greek authorities for the repatriation of the bodies and to assist the survivors.

Meanwhile, two brothers from Gujarat, who survived the boat tragedy, shared their story, explaining that their boat collided with a cargo ship, causing it to capsize. The engine of the affected boat was faulty, and the condition of the boat was poor.

The survivors recounted that they were kept in Libya by agents for about one and a half to two months before their boat set sail on December 11. The waves were very rough, and they spent 3 to 4 days at sea. When they were nearing Italy from Libya, their boat collided with a cargo ship near Greece, causing it to capsize.

One of the survivors said that thanks to God's mercy, he is alive, and after the accident, they were rescued from the sea and sent to a camp in Greece. While Pakistani nationals in Greece have provided them with clothes and shoes, the Pakistani embassy has not offered any assistance.

The survivor shared that due to difficult circumstances in Pakistan, he left the country in search of a better life, only to face further hardships abroad.

Revelations have emerged about the boat accident near Greece. Human traffickers have started using small boats instead of large trawlers to evade coast guard surveillance systems.

On the night of December 11-12, three boats carrying migrants from Libya were launched. The boats were at sea for about two and a half days. Two of the boats made it safely, while one encountered an accident. This recent incident, like previous ones, occurred due to the greed of the crew and smugglers. The boat was overcrowded, which led to the accident.

According to information obtained by Express, over 84 people were aboard the affected boat, most of whom were Pakistanis, with some Egyptians and Sudanese among them. One of the two crew members, a Sudanese, survived and was arrested by the police. So far, 47 Pakistanis have been rescued, and four Pakistanis have been confirmed dead, one of whom was from Sialkot.

Sources suggest that 30 Pakistanis are still missing, and their whereabouts are being searched based on reports from the surviving Pakistanis.

It has also been revealed that the ages of the individuals aboard the boat ranged from 15 to 40 years, with the majority between 25 and 30 years old. Three children aged 15-16 were also on board. Most of the passengers were from Punjab, including areas like Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and Gujarat.

Govt to swoop on 'cruel mafia' after Greek boat tragedy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed the interior ministry to identify and punish the "cruel mafia" of human traffickers who exploit the poor with false and ambitious dreams, and take concrete measures to prevent any repeat of such tragic incident.

The statement, released by the Prime Minister House came hours after the Greek authorities confirmed the death of one Pakistani citizen in a boat capsize incident in the Mediterranean Sea. The authorities also said that 47 people rescued from sea were Pakistanis.

Shehbaz expressed his sorrow over the loss of Pakistani lives. "Human trafficking is a tragic crime that claims many lives and causes numerous families to suffer every year," he said. "Human traffickers are a cruel mafia who exploit the poor by deceiving them with false and ambitious dreams," he added.

The prime minister emphasized that such individuals should be identified and given strict punishment to prevent them from committing such heinous acts again.

In a separate statement, President Asif Zardari also termed human trafficking a "heinous practice" that causes immeasurable pain and suffering.