Greece boat disaster: Pakistan to observe day of mourning today

• PM forms a four-member committee to probe the tragic incident.
• The committee will submit its report within a week.
• National flag will fly at half mast on all the important buildings tomorrow.

Expressing his grief over the tragic incident of the boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Greece resulting in deaths of several people, including Pakistanis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a countrywide day of mourning on Monday (today).

At least 78 people were drowned when the ill-fated boat with reportedly 400 to 750 people onboard sank in the Mediterranean Sea near the Greek coast. Meanwhile, some 104 people were rescued and sent to Kalamata, Greece, as per to the latest media reports.

According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister Office, the day of mourning will be observed throughout the country on June 19.

It said that the national flag will fly at half mast at all the important buildings.

PM forms committee 

Meanwhile, the prime minister has constituted a four-member high-level committee to investigate the tragic incident of boat capsizing off Greece's coast.

According to a notification issued by the PM’s Office, the committee will comprise National Police Bureau Director General Ehsan Sadiq —who will head the body — Minister of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary (Africa) Javed Ahmed Umrani, AJK’s Police Region Poonch Deputy Inspector General Sardar Zaheer Ahemed and FIA’s Joint Secretary Faisal Nisar Chaudhry.

The committee shall submit its report within one week.

As per terms of reference of the committee, it will ascertain facts of the Greece boat tragedy, to identity loopholes and lapses in the legal and enforcement mechanism in Pakistan that exposed precious human lives to the vagaries of human trafficking in this particular case and similar incidents in the past.

It will analyse similar past incidents and action taken. The forum will also take stock of existing legal framework, enforcement measures in the country and the international coordination to prevent, control and punish human smuggling and to prepare short and long term recommendations, including legislation, enforcement measures, awareness campaign and improvement of national and international coordination to apprehend agents, facilitators, masterminds and rackets and for the eradication of the menace of human trafficking.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that 12 Pakistanis were among the survivors of the capsized overloaded fishing boat which sank off the Peloponnese in southern Greece.

"Sympathies of the entire nation, including me, are with the families of the deceased," a press release issued by Prime Minister Office's media wing quoted PM Shehbaz as saying today.

It said that the premier while ordering the probe into the matter, directed the authorities concerned to tighten the noose around the elements involved in luring people into dangerous businesses such as trafficking.

It further stated that the premier also ordered an immediate crackdown against the agents involved in the heinous crime and punish them in a befitting manner.

PM Shehbaz also directed the Pakistani Embassy in Greece to take care of the 12 Pakistanis who had been rescued in the incident, it added.

Key 'human trafficker' arrested

According to the latest reports, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday night claimed to have arrested a Key human trafficker involved in sending people abroad in Sheikhupura, Punjab.

Taking action on a tip-off, the investigation agency apprehended the key suspect, Talha Shahzaib, from Sheikhupura. He had received Rs6.5 million from Zahid Akbar resident of Farooqabad for sending him abroad.

The development came hours after PM Shehbaz ordered an immediate crackdown on agents engaged in the human trafficking, saying they would be "severely punished".

The alleged human trafficker sent Akbar to his uncle residing in Libya, said the FIA officials, adding that his parents live in Italy.

10 suspected human traffickers apprehended

Earlier today, the officials said that at least 10 alleged human traffickers have been arrested in the country days after dozens of migrants drowned off the coast of Greece.

The officials said nine people had been detained in Azad Jammu and Kashmir — home to a majority of the victims — and one in Gujrat.

"They are presently under investigation for their involvement in facilitating the entire process," said Chaudhary Shaukat, a local official from the AJK.

In a joint statement, the International Organization for Migration and UN Refugee Agency said between 400 to 750 people were believed to be aboard the ferry.

On Saturday, Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs said 12 nationals had survived, but they had no information on how many were aboard the boat.

An immigration official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the figure could surpass 200.

On Thursday, the Greek police arrested nine Egyptians on suspicion of people smuggling — one of them was the captain of the boat carrying the migrants.

They were detained at the port of Kalamata, where the survivors are being cared for, said Greek news agency ANA.

Greece, Italy and Spain are among the main landing points for tens of thousands of people who seek to reach Europe.

—Additional input from APP/AFP