THIS refers to the report ‘Pakistani death toll in Greek migrant shipwreck rises to 4: FO’ (Dec 16). State and government functionaries have expressed their sorrow and anger over the accident, condemning the human traffickers, and ordering action against them. I, as a common citizen, wish to ask the president, the prime minister and the interior minister if they think this is the first tragedy of its kind. Even in their own current tenure, this is not the first.

I would suggest to them to go through the exhaustive investigation reports on human trafficking in the last couple of months. They will realise that they do not need a new inquiry. The official machinery is hand in glove with such networks.

In the light of the Right to Information Act, I would like the people to be informed about the number of such incidents in the last two years, the number of Pakistanis who have lost their lives, the amount paid by each traveller to the traffickers, and the number of traffickers and facilitators caught. I hope I am not asking for too much.

Lt-Col (retd) Khalid Mahmood
Abbottabad

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2024