Youths missing after 'Dunki' journeys

Pakistanis travelled from Mauritania to Spain but never returned

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought a response from the federal government on a petition concerning more than 50 Pakistani youths who allegedly went abroad through irregular "dunki" routes in search of employment but went missing.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition filed by citizen Afzal Hussain Shah, with Advocate Shafqat Abbas Tarar appearing on behalf of the petitioner.

The court issued notices to the federal government and directed the assistant attorney general to submit a report before the next hearing, scheduled for November 2.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel said more than 50 young men from Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad and other areas illegally went out of the country in search of employment.

He said the youths had travelled on different boats from Mauritania, an African country, towards Spain between April 2024 and January 2025.

However, they failed to reach their intended destination and their families have not received reliable information about their whereabouts or immigration status in any country.

The lawyer said the families had been unable to ascertain whether the missing youths were stranded somewhere, detained, deported or living in another country under some other status.

He informed the court that the petitioner had already submitted written applications to the prime minister, foreign minister and interior minister seeking government assistance in tracing the missing Pakistanis.

The counsel requested the court to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct consular inquiries regarding the missing Pakistani citizens in different countries.

He also sought directions for Pakistani embassies and consulates abroad to make efforts to trace the missing youths and determine their whereabouts.

The petitioner further requested that immigration, travel and other available records of the missing Pakistanis be examined to establish their movements and current status.

He also asked the court to direct the authorities to take appropriate measures for the safe repatriation of those Pakistanis who might be stranded or otherwise unable to return to the country.

The counsel also sought efforts to determine whether any of the missing individuals had been detained, stranded at a particular location, deported or were present abroad under another legal or immigration status.

During the proceedings, Justice Tahir called the assistant attorney general to the rostrum and directed him to examine the matter. "Please look into the matter and submit a report at the next hearing," he said.

The IHC subsequently issued notices to the federal government and adjourned further proceedings until November 2.