The Libya boat tragedy had shiocked the entire nation and now the bodies of six Pakistanis who died during the painful incident have been brought back to Pakistan.
Federal Minister for Housing Riaz Hussain Pirzada received the remains at Islamabad Airport.
The deceased included Mansoor Hussain, Shoaib Ali, Abid Hussain, Shoaib Hussain, and Masaib Hussain from district Kurram and Muhammad Ali Shah from district Orakzai.
The ill-fated boat carrying migrants to Italy sank in the Mediterranean on February 5, claiming 26 Pakistani lives.
Uptil now, 16 bodies have been recovered, while efforts are also underway to bring back 37 surviving Pakistanis who are stranded in Libya.
According to unverified reports, it added that there were 63 Pakistanis on the boat and 16 dead bodies were recovered.
37 survivors
There are 37 survivors, including 1 in hospital and 33 in police custody, it maintained, adding that around 10 are missing and three of the survivors are in Tripoli and being looked after by the Embassy.
Federal Minister Riaz Pirzada expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “This heartbreaking incident has left many families in mourning. We are ensuring that the deceased are returned to their loved ones as soon as possible.”
Avoid illegal routes
The federal minister advised Pakistan’s youth to avoid dangerous illegal routes to Europe, highlightening the risks of human trafficking and unsafe migration.
He said that his government was working on the repatriation of 37 survivors who remain stranded in Libya. He assured that their return will be facilitated as soon as possible.
On the other hand, the body of Muhammad Shabbir, a victim of the Greece boat tragedy, was laid to rest in Ghakharwali, Pasrur.
It has been reported that Shabbir had paid an agent Rs three million to facilitate his journey to Europe.
His fate highlights the grave dangers of human trafficking and the desperate measures taken by migrants seeking a better future.
Libyan boat tragedy
The Foreign Office confirmed on Feb 16 that sixteen Pakistanis were identified among the dead in the Libyan boat accident.
According to the Foreign Office, 13 of the dead are from Parachinar. The Foreign Office further said that ten Pakistanis are still missing in the boat accident.
The relatives of the dead persons said that the bodies of the dead have not been found yet, and they are waiting impatiently. They knocked on the doors of every office to find the bodies, the relatives said.
The family is in deep pain, and the government of Pakistan should arrange to bring the dead bodies back, the relatives demanded.
A survivor, Haider, said in a telephonic conversation that most of the missing are also from Parachinar.
List of the deceased
Following list containing details of the dead bodies so far identified as Pakistani nationals based on their Pakistani passports is:
- Saqlain Haider s/o Imran Ali, DR6972382
21303-2783238-3
Kurram, KPK - Siraj Uddin s/o Iqbal Muhammad, BJ2409381
21103-7461938-1
Bajaur, KPK - Shoaib Hussain s/o Noord Ali, QL6912022
21303-6376202-7
Kurram, KPK - Nusrat Hussain s/o Mir Afzal, ZD6895733
21303-9812573-1
Kurram, KPK - Shoaib Ali s/o Muhammad Ali, ZM1828071
21302-5094807-7
Kurram, KPK - Sayed Shehzad Hussain, s/o Sayed Wajid Ali Shah, JH6907972
21303-6879797-3
Kurram, KPK - Abid Hussain s/o Imran Ali, PD6902442
21303-6506244-3
Kurram, KPK - Asif Ali s/o Israr Hussain, XJ1830591
21303-9057059-9
Kurram, KPK - Muhammad Ali Shah, s/o Abdullah Shah, FX5165331
14301-2849533-3
Orakzai, KPK - Musawir Hussain s/o Sher Mehdi, NL6906012
21303-4617601-5
Kurram, KPK - Aswar Hussain s/o Mandar Ali, PX6906254
21302-5995625-1
Kurram, KPK - Abid Hussain s/o Muhammad Hassan, JJ6906103
21303-5757610-5
Kurram, KPK - Musaib Hussain s/o Jamil Hussain, WU6903842
21303-6303384-9
Kurram, KPK - Anis Khan s/o Musharaf Khan, FT4162171
17301-6719217-7
Peshawar, KPK - Ashfaq Hussain s/o Hussain Afzal, ZL6902121
21303-2570212-7
Kurram, KPK - Shahid Hussain s/o Kafiat Hussain, WH6907692
21303-3335769-1
Kurram, KPK
