Pakistan arrests 10 trafficking suspects after Greek boat tragedy

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced a high-level investigation to trace human traffickers behind the Greek ship tragedy that killed hundreds of citizens in the Mediterranean. So far, at least 10 sub-agents responsible for human trafficking have been arrested from several locations in Pakistan.

At least 400 Pakistanis, 200 Egyptians and 150 Syrians, including about two dozen Syrian women and small children, were traveling on the trawler, according to a report. 

Although the Greek administrations and Pakistan have not officially confirmed whether the missing 500 migrants are dead or still alive, several media reported that the citizens of Islamabad were killed given that the accident happened about four days ago and none of them contacted or made emergency calls.

As the incident highlights the plight of citizens in the cash-strapped country, Prime Minister Sharif formed a committee to investigate human trafficking as he declared mourning over the boat tragedy.

"The national flag will be flown at half-mast tomorrow and special prayers will be offered for the deceased," Dawn was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

The commission of inquiry would ascertain the facts of the boat tragedy and identify loopholes in the enforcement mechanism that exposed Pakistanis to "the vagaries of human trafficking in this particular case". Those arrested on Sunday include either "sub-agents" or "agents" of Chaudhry Zulqernain, Talat Kiani, Khalid Mirza and Sajid Mehmood - the main traffickers.

According to the report, the suspects disclosed shocking information during preliminary interrogation, including the names of the traffickers and their modus operandi.

Police said that based on information received from "sub-agents", the aspirants were "legally transported" to the UAE, Egypt and Libya, from where they embarked on a dangerous journey, Pakistani media reported.