The boat carrying around 250 illegal migrants including children, women and 55 Pakistanis capsized while heading towards Australia’s remote Christmas Island from far eastern shores of Java. Nearly 200 are still missing and rescue operations are hindered by low visibility and bad weather. The unfortunate Pakistani migrants who lost life belonged to Quetta’s Hazara community and mostly of Alamdar Road. The youth were between 19 to 22 in age and were moving illegally to earn bread and butter for their families. As usual the boat was overloaded and could not resist bad weather and turned turtle.
The Machiavellian role of captain and crew who snatched life jackets and swam away for their life is totally abominable. The gory picture portrays the economic condition viz a viz poor approach to reach foreign soils for better earnings.
Earlier, similar casualties had taken place on Greece border. As per statements of rescued people, it costs them nearly US$9500 to reach Australian costal areas. Had this amount been spent prudently in Pakistan, they would have established a good business for themselves, instead of putting their life at stake and mostly losing it. The parents should also look at this factor and motivate their children to stay away from elements that induce and lure of a bright future abroad but that ends up in a miserable death.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Before leaving home for foreign countries one must think a hundred times……!
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