ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (DNA): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on
Tuesday said that he had a useful telephonic conversation with his Greek
counterpart Vassilis Kaskarelis and discussed the tragic boat disaster
off the coast of Greece.
During a telephonic conversation, the foreign ministers discussed the
tragic boat disaster off the coast of Greece, Bilawal Bhutto posted on
his Twitter handle.
“[We] agreed to closely work together to facilitate Pakistanis in
distress and for the identification and repatriation of retrieved
bodies,” FM Bilawal wrote.
Last week, an Italy-bound fishing trawler reportedly carrying at least
800 people — including hundreds of Pakistanis — capsized off Greece.
Only 104 people are known to have survived and the chance of finding
more survivors was seen as virtually nil.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities concerned to hold
an inquiry into the human trafficking that led to the tragic incident of
migrants shipwreck near Greece with several Pakistani nationals onboard.
In a statement, the premier directed concerned authorities for an
immediate crackdown against agents involved in the heinous crime of
human trafficking and called for bringing them to justice.
The prime minister expressed his deep grief and sorrow over death of
Pakistani nationals in the tragic incident that took place off the coast
of Greece, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The prime minister also directed the officials of the Pakistan embassy
in Greece to look after 12 Pakistanis rescued from the scene of
disaster.
He also issued orders for taking further stringent action against the
elements involved in human trafficking, besides asking the law
enforcement agencies for the identification of such traffickers who had
been duping people to undertake such perilous steps.
PM Sharif has also announced to observe mourning day on Monday
(tomorrow) and constituted a four-member high-level committee to probe
into the death of dozens of Pakistanis in the Greece boat tragedy. DNA
: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari onTuesday said that he had a useful telephonic conversation with his){kind=link}