SHEIKHUPURA, Pakistan — The remains of four Pakistani nationals who drowned during a migrant boat accident off the coast of West Africa last month have been returned to their homeland.
These individuals were part of a larger group, with thirteen Pakistanis identified through DNA testing. Their bodies were flown back from Morocco on a Saudi airline and arrived at Islamabad International Airport, according to officials. Subsequently, the remains were laid to rest in their respective hometowns in Punjab province.
On January 2, the ill-fated vessel departed from Mauritania, reportedly carrying around 80 passengers, including several from Pakistan, as indicated by the Foreign Ministry and a Spain-based organization dedicated to migrant rights, Walking Borders. The ministry confirmed that the boat capsized near the Moroccan port of Dakhla while en route to the Canary Islands, a Spanish island group that many migrants attempt to reach through perilous sea crossings in overcrowded boats.
According to Walking Borders, approximately 50 people lost their lives during the journey to the Canary Islands, with 44 of them being Pakistani nationals. Additionally, Pakistan has already facilitated the return of all 22 survivors from this tragic incident.
Mohammad Adnan, the brother of one of the deceased migrants, voiced allegations that human traffickers had resorted to brutal tactics, throwing passengers into the sea during a dispute over payments.
Adnan explained that his family had contracted a local smuggler to transport his brother, Mohammad Arslan, to Europe for a fee of 5 million rupees ($18,000), with 4 million rupees ($14,000) already paid upfront. They learned about the tragic sinking before the balance was settled, and survivors later claimed that the migrants were thrown overboard.
Another individual, Samar Iqbal, who lost his brother in the incident, stated he was unaware of any assaults on the migrants by smugglers. Iqbal’s brother, Qaiser Iqbal, had sent a final message stating he was boarding a boat; afterward, communication ceased.
He expressed these sentiments before receiving his brother’s remains at the airport. Some survivors have claimed that their boat did not capsize and alleged that human smugglers tortured migrants and tossed them into the sea over payment issues.
No government representatives could be reached for comment regarding these serious allegations.
Each year, many Pakistanis tragically lose their lives while attempting to migrate to Europe by land or sea, often facilitated by human smugglers. Following the sinking, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari underscored on January 18 the urgent need for enhanced measures to combat human trafficking. Authorities in Pakistan have stated they are intensifying their crackdown on human traffickers and have dismissed several immigration officials for negligence.