Pakistan has sent investigation teams to Morocco to investigate the migrant boat tragedy that left dozens dead, officials said.
The teams, comprising officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Interior Ministry, will gather evidence and interview survivors to determine the circumstances of the sinking, a senior official told reporters. from the FIA, Express News reported.
“The teams will collect videos, photographs and other documents to ensure a thorough investigation,” the official said, adding that their findings will be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to initial reports, at least 86 people were on board when the ship capsized near the coast of Morocco, including 66 Pakistanis.
It is still unclear how many survived or are still missing.
Authorities have vowed to crack down on human smuggling networks suspected of facilitating the dangerous journey. Testimonies from survivors will be key to identifying those responsible, authorities said.
Earlier this week, a tragic incident involving migrants trying to reach Spain from West Africa may have claimed the lives of up to 50 people, including 44 Pakistanis, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders.
The group reported Thursday that the ship, which left Mauritania on Jan. 2, was carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis. Moroccan authorities rescued 36 people from the ship on Wednesday.
The migrants were part of a larger wave attempting to make the dangerous journey across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands.
Walking Borders, based in Madrid and Navarra, revealed that the ship had been missing days before the alarm was raised.
Six days ago, the group had informed the authorities of all the countries involved about the disappearance of the ship.
The non-governmental organization Alarm Phone, which helps migrants lost at sea, also contacted Spain’s maritime rescue service on January 12, but the service reportedly had no information about the ship.
Walking Borders has documented a record number of deaths in 2024, with 10,457 migrants (approximately 30 per day) dying while trying to reach Spain, mainly along the Atlantic route from West African countries such as Mauritania and Senegal.
The Canary Islands, a key destination for many migrants, have become an important location on this deadly migration route.
Helena Maleno, executive director of Walking Borders, shared on social media that 44 of the victims were from Pakistan and described the ordeal as a 13-day journey of suffering and anguish without rescue assistance.
The tragedy has sparked outrage from both local officials and humanitarian groups.
Embassy in contact with local authorities, says Foreign Ministry
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deaths of several Pakistanis in the migrant boat accident and stated that the embassy is in contact with local authorities.
The embassy in Morocco reported that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, sank near the Moroccan port of Dakhla, after having left Mauritania while survivors, including Pakistanis, currently reside in a camp near Dakhla. .
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs activated its Crisis Management Unit and sent a team to Dakhla to provide assistance.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has directed the relevant authorities to ensure all possible help to the affected Pakistanis.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also published contact details for assistance:
Ministry of External Affairs Islamabad: 051-9207887, email: [email protected]
Embassy of Pakistan in Rabat: Rabia Kasuri (Charge d’Affaires) +212 689 52 23 65, Nauman Ali (Consular Assistant) +92 310 2204672.
