The whole nation shocked and saddened by the news of the boat tragedy and the loss of 300 Pakistani lives in Greece. Today (Monday) a day of mourning observed as per the Prime Minister’s orders. Also, a crackdown on human smugglers begins.
The national flag fly at half-mast today, while special prayers will offered for the deceased. The names of 14 Pakistani human smugglers come to light through the statements of the rescued people, teams have formed for their arrest, FIA started a crackdown against human smugglers across the country, the main culprit behind sending the deceased abroad, Talha Shah Zeb arrested from Sheikhupura.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a day of mourning today (Monday) over the deaths of Pakistanis in the boat accident in Greece and also formed a four-member high-level committee for the investigation of the incident.
Shehbaz Sharif directed an inquiry into the incident and said that those involved in human smuggling should brought to justice, and agents involved in heinous crimes like human smuggling should immediately cracked down and given exemplary punishment.
On the direction of the Prime Minister, FIA has appointed DIG Alam Shinwari as the focal person for information and facilitation of those killed and injured in the incident. Meanwhile, regarding the day of mourning, today the national flag remains at half-mast and special prayers offered for those who lost their lives.
The Director General of the National Police Bureau Ehsan Sadiq will be the chairman of the committee while Additional Secretary (Africa) Javed Ahmed Imrani of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DIG Sardar Zahir Ahmed of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Poonch Region and Joint Secretary (FIA) Faisal Nasir of Ministry of Interior will also be part of the committee.
The committee will collect all the facts about the sinking of the boat in Greece, investigate the aspects of human smuggling, and identify those responsibly. The legislation will done to impose severe punishments on those who cause such incidents, individuals, companies, and agents. The committee will submit its report to the Prime Minister within a week. Further action will taken in light of the committee’s report.
In addition, the Prime Minister has directed law enforcement agencies to identify human smugglers who lure people into dangerous acts. The Chief Secretary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has also appointed focal persons for contact with Pakistani Embassy and Greek authorities and information of those killed and injured.
According to sources in FIA, 5 out of human smugglers belong to Gujrat whose names are Shafqat, Faisal Sanjara, Asif Sanjara, Haji Zulfiqar and Mian Arfan. Sources said that names of human smugglers Riyasat and Javed Iqbal have also come to light while Sajid Warraich and Mudassar from Mandi Bahauddin also named.
Sources in FIA said that Rana Naqash from Daska and Abid Sakina also named as human smugglers.