Pakistan

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

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

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.

Latest News

Rainfall throughout the night stops flights in Lahore.

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Allama Iqbal International Airport experienced many hours of flight disruption due to the intense rainfall and windstorms that occurred overnight in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab.

Aviation sources claim that because of the monsoon weather, the flight operation was unable to operate between 3 and 4 am.

It is possible that the planes will arrive at the airport at 4 am.

Amidst delays in foreign airline flights, three aircraft made landings in Multan and Peshawar.

Riyadh flights arrived in Peshawar Airport, while flights scheduled to land in Lahore in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain ended up landing in Multan Airport.

Seven hours later than scheduled, the Qatar Airways flight from Doha arrived in Lahore.

Because of the bad weather, there are delays in the arrival and departure of numerous international planes.

Latest News

Changes to Pakistan’s Test team could be significant for the Bangladesh series.

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Major changes to Pakistan’s team are anticipated ahead of the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh, sources in Lahore have revealed.

As the team gets ready for the series, meetings with the players are planned for next week.

It is predicted that the Test squad would undergo several changes. The team’s lineup is expected to be strengthened by the likely inclusion of Muhammad Huraira. Key players like Faheem Ashraf, Wasim Jr., Saim Ayub, and Nauman Ali, whose contributions are vital to the team’s success, struggle to get a spot on the squad.

Furthermore, according to sources, Imamul Haq or Sahibzada Farhan are anticipated to be added to the team, subject to additional assessment. Furthermore, following a fitness assessment, Amir Jamal and Hasan Ali’s futures will be determined.

The ultimate selection for the Test team will take place following Red Ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s return to Pakistan. The ultimate squad that will play Bangladesh in the forthcoming Test series will be greatly influenced by his assessments and thoughts.

Pakistan is scheduled to visit New Zealand in March and April of 2025, according to the country’s official cricket schedule, which was released earlier this month.

Throughout their visit, the Pakistan cricket team will play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in an exciting series.

The T20I series, which starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 16, will serve as the tour’s opening event.

Latest News

PM Meets With KP Lawmakers: Promises Progression and Relief Efforts in Province

Published

15 hours ago

Farwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhawa lawmakers are given assurances by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the province’s development, namely in the amalgamated districts, with a particular emphasis on the provision of standard health and educational facilities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa National and Provincial Assembly members paid a visit to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at PM House.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the PML-N Government has always given priority to the development of the combined districts.

The prime minister promised that the combined Districts would have standard health and educational facilities, and that Danish Schools would be established nearby to offer local pupils an education of the highest caliber possible.

The PM also underlined the importance of promoting solar energy, combating electricity theft, and helping the middle class and impoverished.

He said that in order to boost the agriculture sector’s growth, expand the amount of land under cultivation, and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, the government was converting agricultural tubewells to solar energy nationwide.

According to PM Shehbaz Sharif, the government recently provided significant reduction from electricity rates for those with low and moderate incomes.

At the event, he also announced the creation of a committee headed by the deputy prime minister, whose goal will be to identify long-term solutions to the issues facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s elected officials.

He argued that in order to preserve the nation from going into default, the current government had to make difficult political choices in order to revitalize the economy.

The parliamentarians gave Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif high marks for his visionary leadership in transforming Pakistan’s economy.