Shocking revelations by Pakistani survivors have painted a gruesome picture of the recent Morocco boat tragedy, describing it not as an accident, but a deliberate murder orchestrated by an international human trafficking ring.
In their initial statements to a Pakistani investigation committee, survivors recounted the horrors faced on the ill-fated boat, which was deliberately stopped in the open sea by smugglers demanding ransom. Sources quoted the survivors as telling the committee that passengers were made to suffer extreme violence, starvation, dehydration, and the brutal cold, leading to numerous deaths.
Witness accounts suggest that the tragedy was orchestrated by an international network of human traffickers, including individuals from Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco. The boat, holding passengers from multiple countries, became a death trap as smugglers monitored it to ensure their demands were met.
Survivors revealed that 21 Pakistanis who managed to pay the ransom were eventually released, but many others succumbed to the violence, hunger, and severe weather conditions.
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A four-member investigation team from Pakistan is currently in Morocco to probe the incident. The team comprises senior officials, including the additional interior secretary, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director (North), and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
In statements to the investigation team, survivors disclosed that:
- The smugglers stopped the boat in the open sea to demand ransom.
- Passengers were left helpless and faced a severe shortage of food and water.
- Most deaths occurred due to torture, extreme hunger, thirst, and freezing temperatures.
The horrifying ordeal highlights the grim realities of human trafficking and the need for international cooperation to dismantle such networks. Survivors have called for justice, urging authorities to hold the culprits accountable and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday that 21 Pakistani nationals were among the survivors of a migrant boat that capsized off the Moroccan coast while en route to Spain. The tragedy involved a vessel carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, which departed Mauritania on January 2.
Also Read: Pakistan dispatches investigation team to Morocco after deadly boat incident
According to Moroccan authorities, 36 individuals were rescued on Wednesday near Dakhla, Morocco.
A minority rights organisation, Walking Borders, had reported that the boat carried passengers of various nationalities, with Pakistanis forming a significant proportion.
The Foreign Office issued a statement confirming, “Based on verified information, twenty-one Pakistani nationals have been identified among the survivors of a maritime incident near Dakhla, Morocco.”
It further noted that the embassy in Rabat had mobilised immediate assistance for those affected.
Pakistan 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 is mandated to conduct an in-depth investigation into the incident that raised serious concerns about human smuggling operations.
