Thirteen Pakistani nationals who lost their lives in a devastating boat accident off the coast of Morocco have been identified, diplomatic sources confirmed on Tuesday. The identification process, completed with the help of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), marks a somber milestone in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The victims were part of a Europe-bound vessel that capsized last month while attempting the treacherous journey from West Africa to Spain. Initial reports indicated that 44 Pakistanis were among the casualties, but only 13 bodies have been recovered so far by local authorities.
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Among the identified are Sufyan Ali, Sajjad Ali, and Raees Afzal, whose families will now receive the remains for burial in Pakistan. The Pakistani Embassy in Morocco facilitated the identification process using fingerprint analysis and photographs, as many of the bodies were found without identification documents.
The repatriation of the bodies is now being arranged, though a timeline for their return has yet to be announced. This tragedy underscores the grave dangers faced by undocumented migrants undertaking perilous sea crossings. Survivors of the disaster have since returned to Pakistan and were questioned by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), leading to action against human trafficking networks.
The incident has also intensified scrutiny over the handling of human smuggling cases. In response to mounting criticism, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently removed FIA Director General Ahmed Ishaq from his position, citing delays in investigating these networks.
The boat, carrying 86 migrants, capsized off the Moroccan coast after setting sail from Mauritania on January 2. Reports indicate that many of the passengers, including 66 Pakistanis, were stranded at sea for 13 days, some enduring torture at the hands of human smugglers before the vessel’s tragic end.
