Bodies of 82 Pakistanis in Greece shipwreck recovered, Sanaullah tells NA

The minister expressed the fear that the toll in the incident could rise dramatically

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday said that bodies of 82 Pakistanis in the shipwreck near Greece have been recovered and assured that stern action will be taken against the human smugglers.

According to Radio Pakistan, taking part in budget debate in the National Assembly here, the minister expressed the fear that the toll in the incident could rise dramatically. The boat’s capacity was about 400 passengers, but there were around 700 onboard.

He said specimens of the dead have been obtained and the identification process being conducted through Nadra.

Sanaullah said 281 families have contacted the government, expressing concern that their loved ones may have been caught up in this incident. So far 193 DNA samples have been taken.

He said a high level inquiry committee has been constituted to suggest measures, including amendments to the law to ensure conviction of the human traffickers.

He said a crackdown is underway to nab those behind the tragic boat accident.

The minister informed the House that around 350 Pakistani migrants were aboard the boat. Only 12 Pakistanis survived the tragedy.

The minister said special desks have been established to contact the affected families.

Mentioning the May 9 violence, the interior minister said that those involved in attacking military installations and desecrating martyrs’ memorials must be brought to justice.

He said the nation has no sympathies with the gangsters involved in the May 9 incidents and wants them to be brought to justice.

Sanaullah said the decision of the Supreme Court bench, hearing the petitions against trials of civilians in military courts, should be in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan.

He mentioned the dissent of two judges on the formation of nine-member bench hearing the pleas against trial of civilians and termed the seven-member bench unconstitutional and unlawful.

He said that one of the reasons for the current crisis in the country is the failure of judges and courts to provide justice.

He said the Supreme Court is the highest institution in the country. The chief justice-designate said during proceedings that he does not acknowledge the bench. “If I utter the words, I would be liable to contempt of court.”

The minister said that the court must take decision according to the constitution on the law passed by the National Assembly.

The law says that the bench will form a committee comprising on three senior members. The bench formed by the committee will be constitutional and legal. The senior judge [Justice Isa] opined that this bench was not formed by this committee, so it is not lawful bench.

Sanaullah said that the authority to interpret law rests with the Supreme Court.

Referring to Aitzaz Ahsan and Latif Khosa in veiled term, he said both senior lawyers have played their innings. They met PTI chairman in Lahore before filing the petition. After that, they claimed that they met chief justice told him to make a full court. “When did you talk about this with the chief justice,” Sanaullah questioned.

He said that Qazi Faiz Isa has not been included in any bench for a year. If bench are made on one’s whims, their decisions will have no force.

The strength of the judiciary's decisions lies in its impartiality. Decisions based on injustice cannot be implemented, he added.

Meanwhile, the deputy speaker, who was presiding over the session, directed the power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to carry out load shedding as per the schedule, saying strict action will be taken on unannounced outages.

He gave the ruling following MNA Noor Alam Khan alluded to the problems faced by the people due to load shedding in the scorching heat.

In his remarks on the occasion, Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain said the previous government of PML-N brought the power outages to Zero by installing several power plants.

He regretted that the PTI government in its tenure halted the progress on new power plants. He said more electricity has been added to the system over the last one year because of the efforts of the present government.

Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Shah said the country cannot afford expensive electricity.

He said we will have to focus on exploiting the potential of coal, hydel, wind and solar to produce low cost electricity.

The minister emphasised for enhanced allocation for hydro power projects saying it will put the country on the path of development.