Pakistan’s prime minister has declared a nationwide day of mourning for individuals who died when a fishing trawler filled with folks sank off the coast of Greece.
As much as 750 males, ladies and youngsters from Syria, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Pakistan have been on board the vessel attempting to succeed in Europe.
Greater than 500 folks are presumed to have drowned when the vessel sank on Wednesday.
Native media has reported that a minimum of 298 Pakistanis died, 135 from the Pakistani aspect of Kashmir.
To this point 104 survivors have been rescued and 78 our bodies have been recovered.
The Ministry of International Affairs has confirmed that 12 Pakistanis have been among the many survivors. A complete from 310 folks have been on board.
No survivors or our bodies have been discovered because the day of the accident.
Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated Monday will likely be noticed as a day of mourning with the nationwide flag flying at half-mast.
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There was no official info on what number of Pakistanis have been onboard the vessel or what number of died.
Mr Sharif has additionally ordered a “high-level inquiry” to “confirm info within the wake of the tragic incident”.
He added that “legislation enforcement businesses have been tasked to tighten the noose across the people concerned within the heinous act of human smuggling”.
“I’ve additionally directed Pakistan International Workplace to undertake instant coordination in any respect ranges to gather details about the lacking folks and preserve the nation up to date,” he added.
“I guarantee the nation that these discovered negligent in direction of their responsibility will likely be held to account. Accountability will likely be fastened after the inquiry and heads will roll.”
In the meantime, households within the village of Bindian in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir are nonetheless in limbo in regards to the whereabouts of their family members.
‘Carry again the physique’
Raja Sakundar stated his 4 nephews aged 18 to 36 remained lacking.
He stated: “We have been knowledgeable by the media (of the tragedy). When kids should not discovered or die, you possibly can perceive what a father or mother goes by means of. What is going on to us? We now have no info whether or not they’re alive or {dead}.”
Raja Muhammad Majeed requested the Pakistani authorities to carry again his nephew, Raja Awais.
“If he’s {dead}, carry again (the) physique,” he stated.
“After we bury him right here, his mom, sisters and others can go to his grave and provide prayers. We will likely be affected person.”
The Greek coastguard has defended its response to the tragedy after it was criticised for failing to behave extra rapidly.
They stated the migrants insisted they didn’t want any assist, however non-governmental organisations stated they obtained a lot of requires help.
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Raja Tariq holds up an image of his son Raja Awais who’s lacking. Pic: AP
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In the meantime, police in Pakistan-administered Kashmir stated on Sunday that that they had arrested 12 folks concerned in sending native youths to Libya for the onward journey to Europe.
Senior officer Khalid Chauhan stated police had picked up the suspects in a crackdown on human traffickers.
Police have been interrogating them for his or her alleged roles in luring, trapping and sending locals overseas after extracting large quantities of cash from them.
Round 28 folks from the Koi Ratta space within the district of Kotli had gone to Libya for onward journey to Europe, police stated.
Native official Chaudhry Haq Nawaz stated there was nonetheless no affirmation on what number of younger males from the world have been onboard the ill-fated boat, or what number of have been among the many {dead} or lacking.
He stated efforts have been underneath approach to accumulate kinfolk’ DNA and the take a look at outcomes can be despatched to Greece to assist determine victims.
Folks have been providing their help to kinfolk of these presumed to have been on the boat.