The entire nation is observing a day of mourning for the tragic deaths in the Greece boat tragedy. The national flag will fly at half-mast. Special prayers would also be offered for the deceased.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has directed to launch an investigation into the boat capsizing incident and take immediate action against those involved in human trafficking. He said that the agents involved in human trafficking should be punished. The PM instructed to identify the smugglers who force people to take dangerous steps by blackmailing them.
Shehbaz Sharif further said that the entire nation sympathises with the families of the deceased.
On the other hand, the government has formed a four-member high-level committee to investigate the Greece boat tragedy. The committee will gather all the facts about the tragic incident. Further actions will take place in light of the committee’s report. Members of the formed committee include:
- National Police Bureau Director General Ehsan Sadiq has been appointed chairman of the probe committee
- Additional Secretary of Foreign Ministry for Africa Javed Imrani
- DIG Poonch Zaheer Ahmed
- FIA Joint Secretary Faisal Nisar Chaudhry
The committee will submit the report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a week to form legislation and punish the accused companies and agents involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated the investigation and appointed DIG Alam Shinwari as the focal person for information. A public notice was also issued to obtain information about the agents. Inspectors from various anti-human trafficking circles are part of the investigation team, including Hadi Prastan, Inspector Abdullah, Inspector Waqar Awan and Sub-Inspector Artzai Ansar.
FIA Gujrat has also arrested a facilitator of the agent, identified as Shabir. The authorities said that he used to take money for illegal immigration.
Search & Rescue Operation
A search and rescue operation is underway to find the missing people in the boat capsizing incident that occurred two days ago. So far, the bodies of 78 people have been recovered. Rescue authorities retrieved 104 people alive. Survivors pointed out that the death toll could be as high as 500.
According to Greek authorities, 500 to 700 people were present on the boat that sank in the Mediterranean Sea. A rescue operation with military aircraft, helicopters and six boats is underway.