The Pakistani government on Saturday dispatched a high-level investigation team to Morocco to probe the tragic deaths of at least 44 Pakistani migrants in a boat accident that occurred off the coast of Morocco.

The team, which left Islamabad today, will conduct an in-depth investigation into the incident that raised serious concerns about human smuggling operations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took the decision to send the team, which includes one official each from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Read also: Abdul Aleem Khan expresses grief over tragic boat accident near Spain

According to official sources, the team will visit the Moroccan cities of Rabat and Dakhla, where they will meet the survivors of the ill-fated boat.

The investigation will focus on uncovering the full details of the tragic incident, including allegations of torture and inhumane treatment by human smugglers.

The tragedy

The boat, which set off from Mauritania on January 2, was carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, on its perilous journey to Spain’s Canary Islands. According to reports, the boat capsized off the coast of Morocco, with over 40 Pakistani nationals feared dead. The rescue operation, conducted by Moroccan authorities, saved 36 people, but the rest of the passengers perished in the incident.

Helena Maleno, the CEO of migrant rights organization Walking Borders, stated that as many as 50 migrants may have drowned in the wreck, with 44 of them being from Pakistan. Maleno further revealed that the migrants had been stranded at sea for 13 agonizing days without any rescue efforts, amplifying the tragedy.

Adding to the heart-wrenching details, reports suggest that many of the Pakistani migrants had suffered physical abuse at the hands of human smugglers. These smugglers allegedly subjected the victims to torture while demanding additional money for their passage, pushing them to the brink of death. The survivors, who are expected to provide critical testimony, will play a key role in shedding light on the circumstances leading to the disaster.

65 FIA officers blacklisted

In response to the growing outcry, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the creation of a committee to investigate the Greek boat accident earlier, which involved similar illegal migration attempts.

As a result, 65 officers and employees from the FIA were blacklisted, with more than 30 officials dismissed for their involvement in aiding human smuggling operations. This ongoing crackdown reflects the government’s determination to tackle the rampant issue of human trafficking and its role in the migrant crisis.

The investigation team sent to Morocco is expected to gather testimony from the survivors, assess the conditions on the boat, and investigate the allegations of abuse.

The team will compile a detailed report and submit their findings to the Prime Minister’s Office for further action. The government is also under pressure to strengthen border controls and address the root causes of illegal migration, which continues to be a significant concern for both Pakistani and international authorities.

Passengers from three big cities

A group of 20 individuals, including five people from Karachi, have reached Senegal via various countries, with their travels marked by the promise of a new beginning, only to end in tragedy.

The group arrived in Senegal through different routes, traveling from Faisalabad, Lahore, and Karachi, all possessing valid travel documents, including visas.

Imran Iqbal Uzair, Basharat, Qasneen Haider, and Mudassar Hussain were among those travelling from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport to Senegal. They were joined by Badr Mohiuddin and Gul Shamir, who reached Senegal via Ethiopian Airlines on visit visas. From Faisalabad, the passengers included Sufyan, Ghulam Mustafa, Mehtabul Hassan, and Raees Afzal. Ali Hassan, also traveling from Faisalabad, left for Senegal on a visit visa, while Hamid Shabbir departed on a temporary resident visa.

Waseem Khalid, another traveler from Faisalabad, journeyed to Senegal as a Syed Muhammad Abbas Kazmi visitor. In addition, Muhammad Waqas, Qaiser Iqbal, Sajjad Ali, and Ikram Muhammad were among those travelling to Senegal from Lahore.

However, their journey turned dire when a boat accident occurred during their attempt to reach their destination. According to reports, nine passengers from Gujarat were on board, with five rescued and four confirmed dead.

Three people from Mandi Bahauddin were also on the boat; while three were rescued, tragically, three lost their lives. Additionally, three passengers from Sheikhupura and one from Sialkot were rescued, while a person from Gujranwala died in the incident.