ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of Pakistani nationals near a Greek island. He has directed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to submit an inquiry report on the incident at the earliest.
In a statement, the Prime Minister condemned human smuggling as a heinous crime that causes the loss of countless lives and devastates many families each year.
He emphasized that human smugglers operate as a ruthless mafia, exploiting poor individuals with false promises of a better future in exchange for money. He called for identifying and punishing such individuals to deter them from repeating these inhumane acts.
The Prime Minister instructed the authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future, urging the implementation of concrete steps to combat human trafficking effectively.
Interior Minister Orders Investigation
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of the tragic capsizing of a boat carrying migrants attempting to enter Europe illegally.
He expressed regret over the loss of lives, including Pakistani citizens, and ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
An inquiry committee, headed by Additional Secretary of Interior Riffat Mukhtar Raja, has been formed to investigate the matter. The committee has been tasked with submitting its findings to the Interior Minister within five days.
Minister Naqvi reiterated that human trafficking is an intolerable crime and stressed the need for a nationwide crackdown by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the mafia involved. He highlighted that these criminal networks have destroyed countless families and must be held accountable without exception.
The tragedy occurred near the southern Greek island of Gytheio, where a boat carrying migrants capsized. Five individuals lost their lives, with fears of a higher death toll.
However, several people, including Pakistani nationals and citizens of other countries, were rescued from the waters.
The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for measures to combat human trafficking and ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals.