Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken decisive action in response to the tragic deaths of Pakistanis in a boat carrying illegal immigrants off the coast of Morocco.

Chairing a high-level meeting to take a detailed weekly review of the deaths of Pakistanis, the PM announced the formation of a special task force to eliminate human trafficking networks. He will personally head the task force to ensure swift and effective action against those involved in this heinous crime.

The meeting included a comprehensive briefing on the current efforts to dismantle human trafficking groups, the operations, arrests, cases and the future course of action. The PM, while declaring human trafficking a crime against humanity, said those involved in this crime would be brought to justice, ordering that the arrests of such groups must be expedited.

Authorities informed the PM that six organised groups have been identified as well as 25 individuals linked to these operations. So far, 12 first information reports (FIRs) have been registered, leading to three key arrests. The names of 16 suspects have been placed on the passport control list to prevent their escape.

Also Read: 44 Pakistanis among 50 killed as migrant boat sinks off Morocco

Details of confiscated vehicles, assets, and bank accounts tied to the trafficking networks were also shared during the meeting.

Shehbaz directed all relevant institutions, including the Foreign Affairs Ministry, to intensify efforts to dismantle these networks. He stressed that those responsible for human trafficking will face exemplary punishment, describing the crime as a “murder of humanity.”

Expressing his deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the boat tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the entire nation stands united in grief. He vowed to personally oversee weekly progress reports on the task force's actions, arrests, and future plans to address the issue.

“This heartbreaking incident calls for immediate and decisive action. We will identify and punish those who exploit vulnerable people for profit,” he maintained.

Also Read: 21 Pakistanis survive Morocco migrant boat tragedy

Earlier this month, around 50 migrants, including 44 Pakistanis, lost their lives after a makeshift boat attempting to reach Spain from West Africa capsized off the coast of Morocco, authorities have confirmed. The vessel, carrying approximately 86 people, including 66 Pakistanis, departed Mauritania on January 2. It was heading towards Spain but met with tragedy after spending 13 days at sea.

Mali’s Ministry of Malians Abroad confirmed the incident on Thursday, claiming only 11 survivors were rescued. However, Reuters news agency reports that 36 people were rescued from the sinking boat, with 50 feared dead.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had confirmed that 21 Pakistani nationals were among the survivors of the incident.

Shocking revelations by Pakistani survivors 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.

Also Read: Morocco boat tragedy: Survivors reveal shocking details of 'massacre'

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 suggested 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.