ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan have arrested 10 individuals suspected of being involved in human trafficking, just days after a tragic incident off the coast of Greece claimed the lives of numerous migrants, officials announced on Sunday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an immediate crackdown on agents engaged in people smuggling, emphasizing that they will face severe punishment for their actions.
Each year, thousands of young Pakistanis embark on dangerous journeys in an attempt to illegally enter Europe, seeking a better life for themselves. Among the victims of the recent maritime disaster off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, which occurred on Wednesday, it is believed that dozens of Pakistanis were among the casualties. The sinking of a decrepit trawler has so far claimed the lives of at least 78 individuals, with hundreds more still missing.
Authorities have detained nine people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the region where the majority of the victims hailed from, and one person in Gujrat, a city known as a common departure point for migrants. Chaudhary Shaukat, a local official from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, stated that these individuals are currently under investigation for their alleged involvement in facilitating the entire human trafficking process.
According to a joint statement by the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency, it is estimated that between 400 and 750 people were aboard the ill-fated ferry. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that twelve nationals had survived, but the exact number of individuals on the boat remains unknown.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an immigration official informed AFP that the figure could exceed 200.
In response to the tragic incident, the Prime Minister’s office released a statement affirming his directive to intensify efforts in combating individuals involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking.
The desire to escape political turmoil and an economy on the brink of collapse drives tens of thousands of Pakistanis to leave the country, both legally and illegally. Often, young men from eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province undertake treacherous journeys through Iran, Libya, Turkey, and Greece in their pursuit of unauthorized entry into Europe.
