Pakistan to observe ‘Day of Mourning’ tomorrow – Greece boat tragedy

PM Shehbaz Sharif has declared June 19 (tomorrow) a ‘Day of Mourning’ for the lives lost in the Greece boat tragedy besides constituting an inquiry committee to probe human trafficking and facts that led to the deaths of at least 27 Pakistanis.

The fatal capsizing led to the drowning of at least 79 migrants. Twenty-seven Pakistanis have been identified thus far among the deceased, 12 among the survivors while over 50 Pakistanis are yet missing.

In a statement issued today, the premier directed the relevant authorities to identify those human traffickers and those who deceive people into taking dangerous steps with the promise of a better future abroad.

He directed law enforcement agencies to initiate a crackdown against human traffickers and take strict action against individuals engaged in such heinous crimes.

Acting on these directives, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has appointed DIG Alam Shinwari as the focal person for the information and facilitation of Pakistanis onboard the unfortunate vessel.

In his statement, PM Shehbaz offered condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed grief over the loss of Pakistani lives. The sympathies of the entire nation are with those who lost loved ones in the tragic incident, he said.

The prime minister instructed the Pakistan Mission in Greece to tend to the needs of the 12 Pakistani nationals who survived the sinking boat.

Inquiry committee

Separately, an inquiry committee was notified by the Prime Minister’s Office to probe and ascertain the facts of the Greece boat tragedy.

The committee has been tasked with identifying loopholes and lapses in the local law enforcement mechanism, which led to Pakistanis being exposed to human trafficking in this case and other similar cases of the past.

Moreover, the committee is to analyse similar past incidents and the action taken then besides recommending short-term and long-term measures to apprehend and prevent human traffickers from operating in the country after taking stock of existing legal frameworks in place.

The proposal sought by the PM includes legislation, enforcement measures, awareness campaigns and improvement of national and international coordination to “apprehend agents/facilitators/masterminds/rackets and for the eradication of the menace of human trafficking”.

The committee, led by National Police Bureau Director Ehsan Sadiq and comprising Javed Ahmed Umrani from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poonch DIG Sardar Zaheer Ahmad from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Faisal Nisar Chaudhry of FIA, is to submit its report within one week.

The interior ministry has been directed to provide secretarial support to the committee.

‘Day of Mourning’