Mauritania Boat Tragedy: Survivors Reveal Ransom for Freedom

Islamabad:Pakistani survivors of the tragic boat incident in Mauritania have made shocking revelations, claiming they were released after paying a ransom.

In the initial statement presented to the Moroccan boat accident investigation committee, the survivors disclosed that they were freed only after their captors, involved in human trafficking across Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco, demanded and received a ransom. They also reported severe abuse, including being tortured, and the deaths of four young boys who were struck on their heads and faces with hammers before being thrown into the sea.

The investigative committee, which was sent by the Prime Minister, was told that human traffickers had deliberately halted the boat in open seas and demanded a ransom. Following this, 21 Pakistani nationals were released after the ransom was paid. The survivors shared that they had faced severe food and water shortages during the ordeal, and many passengers, including women and children, died from abuse, hunger, thirst, and the cold.

The boat, under the surveillance of an international human trafficking network, was managed by traffickers from Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco. Most passengers perished due to the appalling conditions they endured.

**Background of the Incident:**
On December 16, the boat, which was illegally attempting to travel from Mauritania to Spain, encountered an accident, resulting in the deaths of 50 immigrants, including 44 Pakistanis.

In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a government delegation to be sent to Morocco to investigate. The team included officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Intelligence Bureau.