Islamabad, February 4, 2025: The identification process for 13 Pakistani nationals who lost their lives in the Morocco boat tragedy has been completed, diplomatic sources confirmed.
The Pakistani Embassy in Morocco, in coordination with local authorities, facilitated the identification process. Using fingerprint data and photographs provided to NADRA, the identities of the deceased were verified. The victims have been identified as:
- Sufyan Ali (son of Javed Iqbal) – Passport No. VF1812352
- Sajjad Ali (son of Muhammad Nawaz) – Passport No. XX1836111
- Rais Afzal (son of Muhammad Afzal) – Passport No. MJ1516091
- Qasnain Haider (son of Muhammad Banaras) – Passport No. AA6421773
- Muhammad Waqas (son of Sanaullah) – Passport No. DJ6315471
- Muhammad Akram (son of Ghulam Rasool) – Passport No. DN0151754
- Muhammad Arsalan Khan (son of Ramzan Khan) – Passport No. LM4153261
- Hamid Shabbir (son of Ghulam Shabbir) – Passport No. CZ5133683
- Qaiser Iqbal (son of Muhammad Iqbal) – Passport No. GR1331413
- Danish Rehman (son of Muhammad Nawaz) – Passport No. SE9154371
- Muhammad Sajawal (son of Rahim Deen) – Passport No. AY5593661
- Shehzad Ahmed (son of Wilayat Hussain) – Passport No. GN1162802
- Ehtesham (son of Tariq Mehmood) – Passport No. CE1170122
The ill-fated boat, carrying 86 migrants, departed from Mauritania on January 2 but capsized off the coast of Morocco. At least 50 people lost their lives in the disaster, including 44 believed to be Pakistani nationals, as per initial reports. However, Moroccan authorities recovered only 13 bodies.
Out of the 86 passengers, 66 were identified as Pakistani, while 36 individuals were rescued by Moroccan authorities.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered strict action against human traffickers and officials involved in facilitating illegal migration. The growing number of boat capsizing incidents involving Pakistani migrants has heightened government concerns.
Earlier this month, former FIA Director General Ahmed Ishaque Jehangir dismissed 35 officials for their alleged involvement in human smuggling and dereliction of duty.
Eight Pakistani survivors arrived at Islamabad Airport earlier today aboard Qatar Airways flight QR614. The returnees—Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Adeel, Irfan Ahmed, Arsalan Shamil, Ghulam Mustafa, Badram Muhiuddin, Mujahid Ali, and Tasbeeh Ahmed Shamil—are currently being questioned by authorities.
The survivors hail from various districts: two from Sheikhupura, two from Sialkot, two from Mandi Bahauddin, one from Gujrat, and one from Jhelum.
Additionally, seven other survivors arrived in Pakistan last night. They include three individuals from Gujrat and one each from Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, and Sialkot.
The Pakistani government has reiterated its commitment to tackling illegal migration and preventing further tragedies at sea.
