PARACHINAR, Pakistan — The remains of 12 individuals, out of the at least 16 Pakistanis who perished earlier this month when a migrant boat capsized off the Libyan coast, have been returned to their homeland, officials confirmed on Friday. This tragic incident involved migrants heading to Europe, with the majority hailing from the Kurram district in the northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The ill-fated vessel was carrying more than 60 Pakistani passengers. Out of these, 37 were rescued, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while 10 individuals are still missing. Ashfaq Ahmed, a local governmental leader, stated that nine of the 12 bodies had arrived in Kurram by Thursday and Friday. The return of the remaining four victims is pending and expected shortly.
The solemn sight of coffins being unloaded from helicopters was seen, as grief-stricken families held images of their deceased loved ones at the funeral ceremonies. The families disclosed that the victims embarked on this perilous journey to seek employment opportunities and security far from home. Among the deceased was a young man of 20, leaving behind two daughters.
Two cousins of a man named Sabir Hussain were among those who died when the vessel sank. Hussain expressed the dire straits in Parachinar, a locale within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, stating, “The situation in Parachinar is terrible. People prefer death instead of living in Parachinar. They try to go anywhere, to go somewhere they can find some work and live a peaceful life. But, unfortunately, we are receiving bodies.”
Libya serves as a vital crossover point for migrants fleeing violence and extreme deprivation in Africa and the Middle East, aiming for improved lives in Europe. Every year, a considerable number of Pakistanis lose their lives while embarking on dangerous journeys by land and sea, often orchestrated by human traffickers. Earlier in January, reports indicated that several Pakistanis lost their lives in a similar boat tragedy off the coast of West Africa.
