Women, children and Pakistanis were forced to stay in the ship’s hold before the sinking
June 18 () –
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has ordered the Pakistani security forces to investigate and persecute the human trafficking organizations involved in the death of 78 people -according to the latest official balance- after the sinking of a ship crowded with immigrants last Wednesday in the Ionian Sea.
More than 500 of the stricken ship’s more than 700 passengers are feared missing and it has been reported that the Pakistanis were forced below decks, leaving their chances of survival much lower, according to a survivor’s account. collected by the British newspaper ‘The Guardian’. Only twelve Pakistani survivors have been recorded.
Shebaz has asked to locate the “agents” involved in human trafficking for prosecution and “take immediate action” to find out the number of Pakistanis killed. In particular, she has appealed to the Minister of the Interior, Rana Sanaulá, to present reports on the investigations and measures adopted. As for the diplomatic missions, she has ordered the Pakistani ambassadors in Greece and Egypt to “take emergency measures.”
“Best efforts should be made for all Pakistanis. I will not tolerate any laziness or incompetence,” warned the prime minister. In addition, Shebaz has declared that Monday is a Day of Mourning throughout the country and therefore the flags will be flown at half mast.
The Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan has also opened an investigation by a commission made up of four people who are trying to locate those responsible.
WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PAKISTANIS IN THE WAREHOUSE
‘The Guardian’ has published this Sunday the story of survivors who ensure that people of certain nationalities, such as Pakistanis, were not allowed to be on deck.
He has also reported that the women and children were also forced to travel in the ship’s hold. Those on deck “had a much better chance of surviving the capsizing” of the ship. “The crew mistreated them (the Pakistanis) when they went out in search of water or when they tried to escape,” the source said.
At first it was reported that the ship capsized early on Wednesday “because the (Greek) coast guard threw a line”, a point that was denied by the Greek authorities, who maintain that a “discreet distance” was maintained with the boat. However, on Friday a Greek spokesman confirmed that a line had been thrown “to stabilize the ship”.
The Greek Coast Guard has reported a sudden change in weight distribution, but the reason for it has not been specified: if there was a wave of panic among the passengers, if an attempt was made to give them something or if an attempt was made to tow the ship. Humanitarian organizations directly accuse the European authorities in general and the Greek authorities in particular of delaying time to avoid a rescue, a strategy that could be deadly.
