Pakistan Dispatches High-Level Team to Morocco to Investigate Deadly Boat Tragedy
On Saturday, the Pakistani government dispatched a high-level investigation team to Morocco to probe the tragic deaths of at least 44 Pakistani migrants in a boat accident off the Moroccan coast.
The team, departing from Islamabad, includes representatives from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). This initiative, directed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to address concerns surrounding human smuggling operations.
Investigation Focus
The investigation team will visit Rabat and Dakhla to meet survivors of the ill-fated voyage. Their inquiry will delve into the details of the tragedy, including allegations of torture and inhumane treatment by human smugglers.
The Tragedy
The boat, which departed Mauritania on January 2, carried 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, en route to Spain’s Canary Islands. It capsized off Morocco’s coast, resulting in the deaths of over 40 Pakistani nationals. Moroccan authorities rescued 36 individuals, while the remaining passengers tragically perished.
Helena Maleno, CEO of the migrant rights group Walking Borders, reported that up to 50 migrants may have drowned, including 44 Pakistanis. Survivors revealed harrowing accounts of being stranded at sea for 13 days without rescue efforts and enduring physical abuse by smugglers demanding additional money.
Government Crackdown on Human Smuggling
In response to public outcry, the Pakistani government has intensified its crackdown on human trafficking. Previously, a committee was formed to investigate a similar boat tragedy in Greece. Consequently, 65 FIA officers were blacklisted, and over 30 officials were dismissed for involvement in human smuggling.
The Moroccan investigation team is tasked with gathering survivor testimonies, examining conditions aboard the vessel, and investigating abuse allegations. A detailed report will be submitted to the Prime Minister upon the team’s return, reflecting the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking and preventing such tragedies in the future.
