Over 60 officials of Pakistan’s FIA implicated in human trafficking ring behind Greece boat tragedy

The boat tragedy that claimed the lives of over 250 Pakistanis off the coast of southern Greece on June 14, 2023, exposed a major human trafficking ring involving over sixty officers of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

A report shared with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed a large-scale human trafficking operation involving dozens of officials as an investigation into a tragic boat capsizing incident near Pylos raised serious concerns about the role of immigration officers at various exit points across the South Asian country, Daily Pakistan reported.

The boat tragedy claimed the lives of over 250 people, with 155 of the victims departing from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. The inquiry has uncovered a major human trafficking network within the FIA, with 61 officials implicated in facilitating illegal migration.

According to Daily Pakistan, the report said over 4,000 Pakistanis were sent to Greece, and many of them lost their lives in three separate boat accidents.

The investigation also led to the presentation of a final report recommending the dismissal of 38 FIA officials, with disciplinary actions already initiated against 21 implicated officers.

The inquiry also raised questions about frequent departures to Libya, a war-torn country, which should have raised red flags among the immigration staff.

It was concluded that supervisory officers’ failure to recognise suspicious travel trends contributed to the continuation of these illegal activities.

The inquiry also recommended strict disciplinary action, including potential dismissal under the Civil Servants Efficiency & Discipline (E&D) Rules, 2020. The implicated officials have been issued show-cause notices, and failure to respond within 10 days will lead to formal disciplinary proceedings.

The implication of the FIA officials comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed authorities to take immediate action to seize the properties and assets of human traffickers in the wake of a deadly boat tragedy off the southern Greek island of Gavdos, which claimed the lives of five Pakistani nationals last month.

The boat disaster, which occurred on December 14, highlighted the dangerous routes many migrants take in search of a better life, often fleeing economic hardships and conflict. For many Pakistanis, the drive to migrate is primarily motivated by the hope of better European financial opportunities.

In a meeting on Monday to discuss the progress of actions against human trafficking, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the need for “intensified efforts” against human traffickers operating within the country accroding to gct

He directed authorities to take swift and severe legal action to dismantle trafficking networks and ensure that those involved in such criminal activities face stringent penalties.

“Immediate legal action should be taken to seize the properties and assets of human traffickers,” the Prime Minister stated, adding that the actions should serve as a deterrent to others engaged in the illegal trade. He called for tougher prosecution of all those involved in human smuggling to send a clear message to facilitators of illegal migration.

The tragic Gavdos boat incident is just one in a series of devastating events involving illegal migration from Pakistan. Last year, a similar incident off the coast of Pylos, Greece, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, when an overcrowded vessel sank after departing from Libya accroding to gct

In response to these events, Prime Minister Sharif directed the Foreign Office to take immediate steps for the extradition of Pakistani nationals involved in human trafficking abroad. Additionally, he called for improved screening processes at airports to prevent individuals from travelling using fraudulent documents or illegal means.

Sharif also urged the Information and Interior Ministries to launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of illegal migration and encourage them to pursue legal avenues for overseas employment.

He stressed the importance of promoting technical training institutes to equip young Pakistanis with the skills needed to meet international labour market demands, offering safer and legal paths to employment abroad.

Source: pagenews.gr