VEHARI , June 20, 2023: The Punjab police on Tuesday arrested another key suspect in the Greece boat tragedy case as the government has ordered a crackdown on those involved in human trafficking – a multibillion dollar illegal business attracting crime syndicates around the globe.
According to a police spokesperson, Mumtaz Arain was arrested in Vehari – a district in southern Punjab – as they seized important documents, mobile phone data and other evidences from his possession.
The mobile phone of Aslam – another suspect detained earlier – was among the items recovered during the raid as the police are now handing over Mumtaz to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) – the department responsible for tackling crimes like human trafficking.
Pakistan has so far arrested over a dozen suspects in Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Karachi and other areas as investigation is under way to capture the main characters behind human trafficking.
Meanwhile, the suspected smugglers arrested by the authorities in Greece are expected to face manslaughter charges in a Greek court this week.
In his reaction, IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwer promised to apprehend all the suspects involved in the boat tragedy in which only 104 people could survive. The number of bodies recovered is just 81, meaning that hundreds of intending migrants lost their lives in the incident.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the probe would be completed soon as the government had ensured arrests of several suspects.