MUZAFFARABAD/KOTLI
The government of Azad Kashmir has announced a three-day mourning period to bemoan the death and drowning of more than 50 Kashmiri youth who were boarding the packed migrant boat which capsized off the coast of Greece a few days ago.
A three-day mourning period is starting from today (Sunday) across Azad Kashmir during which the flag will remain hoisted half-mast.
AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq directed the Chief Secretary to make a contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to bring back the dead bodies.
A list of 27 missing persons of Kotli district was also released after the boat accident.
At least 78 people died and more than 100 were rescued including Pakistanis after a fishing boat overloaded with migrants capsized and sank off Peloponnese in southern Greece a day ago.
It is pertinent to mention here that the ill-fated migrant ship was carrying approximately 750 people, including 100 children and women. The vessel departed from Libya for Italy on the night of June 8. The incident was occurred due to overcrowding the ship during the loading process.
Meanwhile, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has launched a crackdown on the network involved in human trafficking in the valley after the Greece traffic boat accident.
The AJK police launched a grand operation against the gangs involved in human trafficking and arrested 10 agents who have illegally sent several Pakistanis to Europe via boat.
DIG Dr. Khalid Chohan said 10 agents who sent people illegally to Europe have been taken into custody. The case has been registered at Khoi Rata police station.
The citizens hailing from Gujranwala, Gujarat, Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, and Kotli in Azad Kashmir, were traveling to Europe in the boat. The rescue teams rescued group comprises both children and adults.
Among the missing persons feared to be drowned in the boat accident, 6 youths from Pandori Kalan area of Wazirabad are also included. The youths went missing while going to Italy from Libya.
Besides them, 10 people belonging to Sarai Alamgir are also missing. They were trying to go to Italy. Their loved ones back home are unable to make a contact with them and they are overwhelmed with grief.
Two youths, Usman Siddique and Azmat Khan, who belong to Gujarat have been rescued. They confirmed that five more people boarded the boat.
In his tweet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate ferry disaster in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece.
He tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate ferry disaster in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece. Our Embassy in Athens has identified 12 Pakistanis rescued by Hellenic Coast Guard. The Embassy is in contact with the Greek authorities for further updates.”
According to reports, more than 300 Pakistanis were among those who died after a boat packed with migrants capsized off the coast of Greece last week, hopes for the survivors are fading away.
The death toll in Wednesday’s disaster could top many hundred as witness accounts suggested that 400 to 750 people packed the fishing boat that sank about 50 miles (80km) from the southern Greek town of Pylos.
Greek authorities have said 104 survivors and 78 bodies of the dead were brought ashore in the immediate aftermath. Hopes were fading of finding any more people alive. Most of the people on board were from Egypt, Syria and Pakistan, Greek government officials have said.
According to the latest count, 27 Pakistanis died in the boat mishap whereas 12 survived the disaster. More than 50 Pakistanis are still missing. The bodies and the survivors have been identified.
