SHEIKHUPURA, Pakistan – The repatriation of four Pakistani nationals, who were among the many victims of a migrant boat capsizing off the coast of West Africa last month, has taken place. These individuals, identified through DNA tests, were transported back to Pakistan from Morocco on a Saudi flight that landed at Islamabad International Airport early Thursday. Following their arrival, the bodies were subsequently interred in their respective hometowns within Punjab province.
The tragic incident began when a boat departed from Mauritania on January 2, carrying 80 passengers, including several from Pakistan. According to information from the Foreign Ministry and the migrant rights organization Walking Borders, the vessel capsized near the Moroccan port of Dakhla while en route to the Canary Islands—a destination that many migrants attempt to reach via perilous crossings over the Atlantic Ocean in precarious vessels.
Reports indicate that approximately 50 individuals lost their lives during the journey to the Canary Islands, with 44 of those being Pakistani nationals. Pakistan has already completed the repatriation of all 22 survivors of the incident.
The heart-wrenching account from the brother of one of the deceased migrants reveals a dark narrative. Mohammad Adnan disclosed that human smugglers allegedly tortured and discarded the migrants, including his brother Mohammad Arslan, into the sea due to a dispute regarding payment. The family had arranged to pay a local smuggler a total of 5 million rupees (around $18,000) to facilitate Arslan’s journey to Europe, with an initial payment of 4 million rupees (approximately $14,000) already made. However, this sum was not fully paid when the family learned of the capsizing, and some survivors later claimed that the migrants were forcibly thrown overboard.
Another grieving family member, Samar Iqbal, whose brother also perished in the incident, expressed his shock upon learning of the actions taken by the smugglers. He had only heard from his brother, Qaiser Iqbal, that he was boarding the boat, after which all communication ceased. His statements came just before he received his brother’s remains at the airport. Some survivors have now suggested that the boat did not capsize as previously reported; instead, they allege that African human smugglers used hammers to beat the migrants and then threw them into the ocean over payment disputes. The government has yet to respond to these accusations.
Each year, numerous Pakistanis face life-threatening situations as they seek to reach Europe, often with the assistance of human smugglers. In light of this recent tragedy, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, speaking on January 18, emphasized the urgency of implementing stringent measures to combat human trafficking. The government asserts that efforts are underway to tackle the human trafficking issue, including the dismissal of several immigration officials due to negligence.
