PM Shehbaz orders immediate crackdown on human smugglers
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Expressing deep shock and grief over the colossal loss of lives in a boat tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ordered inquiry to ascertain how so many Pakistanis were made to set out on a long and arduous journey to Europe, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The prime minister also ordered immediate crackdown against agents who were involved in the heinous crime of human smuggling and called for bringing them to justice, saying his and the entire nation’s sympathies and prayers were with the victims’ families. “Those who send people abroad by duping them should be identified and arrested,” he directed.
He also directed Pakistani embassy officials in Greece to properly look after 12 Pakistanis who remained safe in the tragedy, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release issued in Islamabad.
The prime minister also directed for taking further stringent action against the elements involved in human trafficking, besides asking the law enforcement agencies for the identification of such traffickers who had been duping people to undertake such perilous steps.
On the instructions of the prime minister, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has appointed DIG Alam Shinwari as a focalperson so that he could provide information to the victims’ families about their loved ones.
On the other hand, chief secretary Azad Kashmir, too, has appointed a focalperson so that he could remain in touch with the Pakistani embassy in Greece as well as with the Greek officials and get information about those who have died and those who are alive.
Hundreds of people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed when a boat carrying migrants to Europe capsized off the shore of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the latest media reports, at least 78 people died after an overcrowded vessel went down on Wednesday.
A total of 104 passengers were rescued and sent to Kalamata, Greece.
The people rescued so far included 43 Egyptian nationals, 47 Syrian nationals, 12 Pakistani nationals, and two Palestinians, the Hellenic Coast Guard were quoted by international media outlets. Eight of those rescued were minors.
Reporter: Awais Kiyani