GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Gujranwala Zone, has launched at least three different inquiries into the death of five Pakistani nationals in a recent boat-capsise tragedy occurring off the Libyan coast, near Greece, whose bodies have yet to arrive in the country.

The inquiries have formally been initiated by FIA crime circles in Gujranwala and Gujrat on the report of the agency’s own officials since families of none of the victims were ready to lodge a complaint for registration of cases against the human traffickers involved in sending their near and dear ones abroad illegally after charging hefty amounts, says Gujranwala FIA zone Director Abdul Qadir Qamar while talking to Dawn here on Tuesday.

He says that two separate inquiries have been initiated by Gujranwala FIA circle, and one by Gujrat FIA cirlce. He adds that two of the boat tragedy victims were from Gujranwala district,

as many others from Mandi Bahauddin and one belonged Gujrat district.

He says the FIA inquiry teams have been tasked with tracing and arresting the human traffickers involved in sending the victims to Libya, adding that the probe may be followed by registration of cases against the suspects.

When asked about arrival of the victims’ bodies in Pakistan, Mr Qamar expressed his ignorance, saying no such information has been shared by the authorities concerned.

On the other hand, the victims’ families have been desperately waiting for the bodies since April 15 when the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed the identities of the deceased persons.

As per the Libyan media, the tragedy occurred between April 12 and 13, when a boat carrying around 67 immigrants capsised in the sea.

The victims’ families have urged the federal government to make arrangements for bringing the bodies back to Pakistan.

ARRESTED: FIA Gujranwala Zone claimed to have arrested five alleged human traffickers during the ongoing crackdown on trafficking networks across the region.

As per officials, the arrests have been made in Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala and Bhimber district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Cases have been lodged against the arrested suspects, they added.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025