The bodies of four Pakistani nationals, who drowned in a migrant boat disaster off the coast of West Africa in January, have been repatriated for burial. The boat, reportedly carrying 80 passengers, capsized off the coast of West Africa while en route to Spain’s Canary Islands.
The bodies of four Pakistani nationals who drowned in a migrant boat disaster off the coast of West Africa in January have been repatriated, officials said Thursday (February 6).
The four were among 13 Pakistanis identified through DNA testing. Their remains were transported from Morocco on a Saudi Arabian flight that arrived at Islamabad International Airport overnight, before being buried in their hometowns in Punjab province.
According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry and the Spain-based migrant rights group Walking Borders, the boat set sail from Mauritania on January 2 with around 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis on board. It capsized off the coast from the port of Dakhla, in the disputed territory of Western Sahara, administered by Morocco, while en route to Spain’s Canary Islands – an increasingly popular gateway for irregular migrants attempting to reach Europe on small boats.
Walking Borders reported that 50 people aboard the boat died, including 44 Pakistanis. Pakistan has already repatriated all 22 Pakistani survivors.
Smugglers tortured and threw migrants into sea, migrants say
Mohammad Adnan, whose brother Mohammad Arslan was among the victims, told the news agency Associated Press (AP) that smugglers tortured and threw migrants into the sea over a payment dispute. He said his family had agreed to pay a local smuggler five million rupees (18,000 dollars or around 17,000 euros) to facilitate his brother’s journey to Europe, with 4 million rupees (14,000 dollars or about 13,500 euros) paid in advance. Before the remaining amount could be transferred, they received news of the tragedy.
Another victim’s brother, Samar Iqbal, said he was unaware of reports that smugglers had thrown migrants into the sea. He said his brother, Qaiser Iqbal, last contacted him before boarding the boat, after which communication was lost, AP reported.
Some survivors have also claimed the boat never capsized and that African smugglers used hammers to torture migrants before throwing them overboard. No government officials were immediately available to comment on the allegations, according to AP.
Canary Islands – Spain's frontline in irregular migration
Every year, hundreds of Pakistanis lose their lives attempting to reach Europe through irregular migration routes. Following this latest tragedy, President Asif Ali Zardari on January 18 called for stricter measures to combat human trafficking. The Pakistani government said it has since launched a crackdown on traffickers and dismissed several immigration officials for negligence.
In the year 2024, nearly 49,000 migrants reached the Canary Islands. The Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean continue to be the main gateway for migrants to Spain. In January, close to 90 percent of all arrivals were registered there.
The total number of arrivals to Spain also declined by 32.4 percent compared to the same period last year -- the first decrease in 18 months.
With AP
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