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Greece boat tragedy: Pakistan decides to amend anti-trafficking laws

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  • Assets of those involved in smuggling to be frozen: sources.
  • High-level committee set up to address issue, says Rana Sanaullah.
  • Bodies to be brought after identification process complete.

Following the tragic shipwreck off the Greece coast in which over 80 Pakistanis died and hundreds are missing, the federal government has decided to amend the Trafficking in Person Act, 2018, sources told Geo News on Friday.

“The proposed amendment will make human smuggling and human trafficking a non-bailable offence,” the sources said, adding that bank accounts and the assets of persons involved in human trafficking and smuggling will be frozen.

‘Flawed laws’

Moreover, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced today that a crackdown is launched against those responsible for human smuggling that led to the deaths of several Pakistani citizens.

“There is also a flaw in the law on this issue,” the federal minister said, addressing the National Assembly.

He further shared that a high-level committee — headed by a grade 22 officer — had been set up to address the issue.

“The committee is working on three aspects,” he revealed, adding that those involved in the accidents have been spared from the courts so far.

However, Sanaullah said proposed legislation in this regard is in progress.

“These people try to go to Europe through Egypt, Libya and UAE. Thousands of young people are in contact with these three countries regarding the issuance of visas,” he added.

Reiterating that action would be taken against those involved in human trafficking, he said comprehensive recommendations would be brought before the nation, and full measures would be taken to prevent illegal migration.

Shedding light on the accountability of those involved in human smuggling and trafficking in the past, Sanaullah said: “In the five years of data available, hardly anyone has been convicted. Then, the affected families reconcile.”

He added that people travel legally from Pakistan to Egypt, Libya and UAE.

“After that, people travel illegally,” he said.

’82 Pakistani bodies brought back so far’

The interior minister said that 12 Pakistanis were rescued in the accident, where the boat with a capacity of 400 people had carried 700 people.

“The number of Pakistanis on the boat found so far is 350,” he said, adding that, perhaps, not as many lives were lost in any terrorist incident.

He further said that 82 bodies had been removed from the sea, and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) teams are trying to identify them through DNA.

The minister said special desks have been established to contact the affected families. “So far 281 families have contacted these desks.”

He shared that the bodies of the deceased can be brought back after the identification process is complete.

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FO admits that a boat capsized in Greece, killing four Pakistanis.

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The deaths of four Pakistanis in a boat capsizing event close to the southern Greek island of Goudos have been verified by the Foreign Office.

The incident happened on Sunday and at least five illegal immigrants drowned as a result. According to Greek Coast Guards, 39 people were rescued after the wooden boat overturned, but 40 more are still unaccounted for.

According to a Foreign Office spokeswoman, the four Pakistani nationals were among those killed in the catastrophe. In order to help the remaining Pakistanis and repatriate the corpses of the deceased, the Pakistani Embassy in Athens has been in close communication with Greek authorities, she said.

Additional information was given by Aamir Aftab Qureshi, Pakistan’s ambassador to Greece, during a press conference. According to him, there were 80 Pakistanis on board the doomed boat, and efforts are still being made to find the people who are still missing.

He added that the overcrowding on the boat was a factor in the capsizing. There are worries over the safety of the missing people because a sizable portion of them are children. He stated that five boats carrying Pakistani nationals were traveling illegally from Libya.

The public was also informed by Ambassador Qureshi that the government will pay for the return flight of the accident victims’ bodies.

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Every office will have a biometric system installed by Lesco.

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system in each office.

Details show that the LESCO had ordered the installation of biometric systems in all offices, including the divisions and the circle.

The installation of the biometric system at the headquarters resulted in an increase in attendance, as the LESCO CEO had stated.

The CEO of LESCO claimed that the biometric system has resolved the issues related to the fictitious overtime and off-days.

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Around 450 Pakistanis have successfully crossed into Lebanon from Syria, according to a briefing from the Foreign Office.

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Approximately 450 Pakistanis, including 250 Zaireen, have successfully crossed into Lebanon from Syria, according to the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.

During her weekly briefing at the foreign office in Islamabad, she stated that Pakistan is pleased with the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on the Gaza Strip, which calls for an immediate ceasefire.

In addition, she expressed her satisfaction with the elimination of limits placed on UNRWA’s ability to carry out relief activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

It was stated by her that Pakistan is demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Palestine, an end to the genocide that is taking place in Gaza, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for those who are in urgent need, full support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and its mandated humanitarian activities, and medical assistance for those who are in urgent need.

Moreover, she stated that Pakistan emphasises the need for the international community to hold Israel accountable for the war crimes and crimes against humanity that it has committed in occupied lands.

The Israeli aggression against Syria, the illegitimate acquisition of Syrian territory, and the massive devastation of Syrian infrastructure as well as civilian and military sites are all topics that Pakistan is extremely worried about, according to the spokesperson for Pakistan.

According to her, this attack on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious violation of international law to the highest degree. By expressing our support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are also expressing our opposition to the Israeli government’s attempt to acquire territory through coercion.

The resolution 497 of the United Nations Security Council, which declares the annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel to be null and illegal and to have no international legal impact, was reaffirmed by her organisation.

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