Another round of condolences. Another set of promises to crack down on human traffickers. This time, it is Libya, with 16 Pakistanis confirmed dead and 10 missing. Before that, it was Morocco, with 44 dead. Before that, Greece, dozens lost. The pattern is clear. The numbers keep rising and the madness continues, as nobody appears to care beyond the usual headlines.
Another horrifying discovery was made days ago when around 50 bodies were uncovered from two mass graves in Libyan city of Kufra. Reports suggest that the deceased were migrants, some bearing gunshot wounds. The discovery was made following a raid at a human trafficking center from where more than 70 migrants were rescued. Similar reports keep emerging, but neither the desperate aspirants nor the authorities pay heed.
Traffickers continue to make their millions off desperate people each day with impunity. They operate only because of demand, and demand exists because Pakistan is a country people want to leave
Traffickers continue to make their millions off desperate people each day with impunity. They operate only because of demand, and demand exists because Pakistan is a country people want to leave. Their ultimate dream destination: Europe. When they cannot get visas, they find ‘agents’. Of course, the grass always looks greener on the other side, but they fail to see the thorns hidden beneath it.
Government crackdowns are mostly performative, failing to dismantle trafficking networks. The “rigorous screening” at airports and the arrests from across the country are not enough. Even where authorities have used local informants to track recruiters in notorious areas, it has failed to deter the trade. Sting operations are being witnessed for immediate arrests, but swift prosecution and subsequent sentencing are rare.
Moreover, little has been done to improve financial tracking to freeze smuggling-linked accounts before money changes hands. The National Trafficking in Persons helpline only forwards complaints to police stations, which already have a hundred other priorities. A dedicated force and an investigative helpline must be established. That, along with stricter legislation against both traffickers and illegal migrants, is a logical solution often proposed by experts.
The overly exaggerated portrayal of a comfortable life in Europe needs to be countered with campaigns showing the real horrors of illegal migration, including abandoned migrants rotting in detention centers. Half-measures will not work. The business will end only when the cost of the crime is greater than the profit. Without strict checks, another boat will set sail and another tragedy will unfold. The outrage will last a day or two and fade into silence... until the next time.
