Boat capsizes off Australia: Dozens of Kurram tribesman were on board doomed vessel
The ferry carrying asylum-seekers from Pakistan and Afghanistan sank some 200 kilometres off Christmas Island, according to Australian authorities. At least 16 of them have been confirmed dead.
At Christmas Island, the Australian government has set up case processing and detention facilities for illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers.
Australia’s Maritime Safety Authority said 110 persons had been rescued, 90 were missing and 16 bodies had been retrieved by rescue teams and taken to the island.
“Families have told me that 125 of the asylum-seekers on board the vessel were from Kurram Agency,” Kohat Division Commissioner Sahibzada Anees confirmed to The Express Tribune.
“Of them, 76 have been traced while the rest are missing,” Anees said and added that he has directed the tribal administration to prepare a list of the victims.
Residents said that 125 of the 140 Pakistani asylum-seekers on board the boat belonged to the Shia community from Parachinar, the main town of Kurram Agency, where sectarian tension has been running high for the last four years. The rest belonged to the Hazara community of Quetta who are also Shias by sect.
“One of my cousins, Gul Hussain, has been rescued, but he is seriously injured,” said Ali Turi, a Shia tribesman from Parachinar who works at a Peshawar-based NGO. “My friend, Imdad Hussain, is among those missing and believed to have drowned.
According to Ali, 175 people from Kurram Agency have gone abroad on student visas, while another 90, mostly young men, have taken refuge in Australia. About 250 are in Indonesia trying to sneak into Australia.
Another resident of Kurram, Shahid Kazmi told The Express Tribune that the asylum-seekers included his friend Mujahid Hussain who is also believed to have died.
He said that Parachinar Students in Australia, a student body, had informed the families about the tragedy. (With additional input from News Desk)
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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@p r sharma: The guys leaving Pakistan not due to Islam but the disturbance created here by some elements internal and external hands are involved here bro. Islam has always taught us the Peace. For your information that is not only Pakistan but Indians also take risk to enter Aussie, what we should call them? This exposes the pseudo Hindus society!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, That's not fair Think about it!
it is a great loss for pakistan as well as Kurram Parachinar.
@WHY who writes "When muslims flee islamic countries, they land in Infidel nations and then in a couple of generations they want more islam and resent the same infidel nation. My questions “why can’t muslims land in other muslim countries?” Please dont mind, but I feel these people could have sought refuge in Saudi/Iran,etc so many muslim countries are around."
Exctly like in Kashmir. Muslims came from somewhere else. Now they cannot progress because they have nothing but Madressah education. They cannot tolerate Hindus or tolerate the progressive nature of Hindus and they demand a separate state.
Great loss for Australia.
When muslims flee islamic countries, they land in Infidel nations and then in a couple of generations they want more islam and resent the same infidel nation. My questions "why can't muslims land in other muslim countries?" Please dont mind, but I feel these people could have sought refuge in Saudi/Iran,etc so many muslim countries are around.
This clearly states the sociopolitical situation in some part of Pakistan that the oppressed are taking the risk of their lives to leave the country and mind it they have preferred a non Muslim country sailing a longer distance as they must have seen hope of survival there. This exposes the pseudo Islamic society mainly in tribal belt. .
hassan : First they will implement "Two Nation theory" and then after 65 years they will demand sharia.
@hassan: most of them r students and u know the conditions of Muslim countries now a days. nothings is present in muslim countries nor education etc and our people have n't demanded shariah ok shame on Pakistan Govt
famous words said by the corrupt ruler representing everything that is wrong with Pakistan, "who's stopping them???"
They want to Australia and then they can start demanding Shariah there !!! Why can't they go to some muslim countries like Iraq or Libya ?
@sid Taji: Why are the refugees always young men? Are women to be left to survive as best they can in Pakistan?
Its pathetic how a country calling itself the "Islamic" republic of Pakistan has forced an Islamic religious sect, already oppressed in the neighboring Afghanistan, to be ridiculed and shunned to such an extent that they have to resort to such measures to escape oppression. This mimics the pre-taliban era in Afghanistan. What a path we are headed.
This is a great tragedy. It's second time that such an incident has happened with the boat carrying Pakistanis. It's sad that people have become so desperate to get out of Pakistan that they don't consider the grave dangers of being smuggled on a boat across the rough oceans.
R.I.P to them all..such sad news...