Two Pakistanis die after boat carrying migrants capsizes in Turkey

Khalid Umar Malik
21 Sep 2022, 00:59 GMT+10

Turkish authorities deported 110 Pakistanis, including two with broken ribs and leg fractures, who arrived at Islamabad Airport on Sunday.
The two injured deportees, Rehmat Javaid of Sialkot and Zubair Hussain of Islamabad were admitted to the hospital because of their critical condition.
According to a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official, both men were tortured and injured in detention.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Turkish authorities deported 110 Pakistanis, including two with broken ribs and leg fractures, who arrived at Islamabad Airport on Sunday.

The two injured deportees, Rehmat Javaid of Sialkot and Zubair Hussain of Islamabad were admitted to the hospital because of their critical condition.

According to a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official, both men were tortured and injured in detention. The number of Pakistanis detained in Turkish detention centers is unknown, but according to the official, there are "a lot of people."

Upon arrival at the airport, all 110 deportees were transported to the FIA's Anti-Human Trafficking Cell in prison vans. The two injured deportees were later taken to the hospital.

Turkish authorities apprehended them for illegally entering the country.

According to the official, the Pakistani nationals traveled to Turkey via challenging land routes in search of better opportunities but were apprehended by law enforcement agencies.

According to a senior official, the deportees are now in custody and will be brought before a court for legal proceedings; the court will decide who to release, even though they have committed no crimes in their home country.

On Thursday, two Pakistanis were killed when a boat carrying Afghan, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani migrants capsized in Lake Van in the eastern Turkish town of Adilcevaz, killing seven people. A total of 64 people were rescued.

On Friday, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed the deaths of two Pakistanis in the incident.