ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced a “high-level inquiry” into a tragic shipwreck off the coast of Greece last week in which several Pakistanis— and other migrants— are feared to be dead, promising that responsibility would be fixed and “heads will roll.”
Pakistani officials have said multiple raids have been conducted and 10 alleged human smugglers have been arrested following Wednesday’s devastating shipwreck that took place in Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula. As per Greek authorities, 400-750 migrants were on board the ship. Nearly 80 people were found dead while 104 have been rescued so far.
Each year, thousands of Pakistanis reportedly attempt to flee economic hardships in the South Asian country and illegally enter Europe via migrant boats. Sharif has called for all those involved in the incident to be “severely punished.”
“In order to ascertain facts in the wake of the tragic incident of the capsizing of the boat in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece, I have ordered a high-level inquiry,” Sharif wrote on Twitter.
The Pakistani premier said he has directed the foreign office to undertake “immediate coordination at all levels” to collect information about the missing persons. Sharif said those found negligent toward their duty would face action.
“Responsibility will be fixed after the inquiry and heads will roll,” Sharif wrote.
Earlier, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced Pakistan would observe a “Day of Mourning” on Monday during which the national flag would fly at half-mast, in solidarity with Pakistanis who drowned in the shipwreck.
The PMO also said Sharif had formed a four-member inquiry committee to probe the incident and provide recommendations to ensure similar incidents do not happen in the future.
Reeling from macroeconomic crises due to political turmoil and poor management of the country’s resources over the years, tens of thousands of Pakistanis are forced to leave the country — legally and illegally.
Young men, primarily from eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, often use a route through Iran, Libya, Turkiye, and Greece to unlawfully enter Europe.
