ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Friday said 82 bodies of Pakistanis have so far been recovered while identification process is underway.
He said the government will take firm action against those involved in human trafficking and added thus far 281 families have contacted in this regard.
The minister was speaking in the National Assembly. He said around 350 Pakistani migrants were aboard the boat that sank in Greece, out of which 12 survived the tragedy. He further said that 82 bodies of those aboard have so far been recovered and their identification process was underway with the help of forensic laboratory and NADRA.
Sana said a crackdown was underway to apprehend those behind the tragic boat accident. He also informed the house that special desks have been established and so far, 281 families have contacted for the information of their dear ones
He told the house that 193 DNA samples have so far been collected to complete the identification process. Earlier this week, the Federal Investigation Agency started obtaining DNA samples from the family members of missing victims of the Greece boat tragedy.
The death toll in the disaster could go to hundreds as witness accounts suggested that 400-750 people were aboard the fishing boat that capsized about 50 miles from the southern Greek town of Pylos.
Greek authorities said 104 survivors and 78 bodies of the dead were brought ashore in the immediate aftermath with the hopes fading for finding out any more people alive.
