Eight Pakistani nationals who survived a tragic boat accident near Morocco have safely returned to their homeland. They arrived in Islamabad on flight QR614, where authorities immediately began questioning them about their journey.
Survivors Identified:
The individuals who made it back home have been identified as Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Adeel, Irfan Ahmed, Arsalan, Ghulam Mustafa, Badr Mohiuddin, Mujahid Ali, and Tasveer Ahmed. Their ages range from 21 to 41, and they belong to different cities in Punjab, including Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, and Jhelum.
The Dangerous Journey:
These survivors were among the many migrants who attempted to enter Spain illegally. They had reportedly paid large sums of money to human traffickers, who first sent them to Dubai on visit visas. From there, they were taken through Ethiopia and Senegal before finally being put on a boat bound for Spain.
On January 16, a boat carrying 86 irregular migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, capsized off the Moroccan coast near Dakhla. The boat had originally departed from Mauritania on January 2. Moroccan authorities managed to rescue 36 individuals, but many others lost their lives in the disaster.
Human Smuggling Network:
Reports suggest that the migrants were subjected to physical abuse by smugglers before being forced onto the boat for the dangerous sea journey. Officials believe that the human trafficking network responsible for this incident is operating from various regions in Punjab.
Pakistani authorities are now actively investigating these trafficking operations. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is working to dismantle these networks and prevent further tragedies. Officials have also urged citizens to avoid illegal migration routes and verify their travel plans through official channels.
Government Response:
In response to rising concerns over human trafficking, the federal government recently removed FIA Director General Ahmed Ishaque Jehangir. His dismissal came amid serious criticism of the agency’s failure to combat illegal migration effectively. Reports suggest that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved his removal due to FIA’s slow response to recent migrant tragedies.
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