Bodies of six Pakistanis from Libya boat tragedy repatriated
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The bodies of six Pakistani nationals who perished in a boat tragedy off the coast of Zawiya city, Libya, were repatriated to Pakistan on Thursday. The remains, which arrived via a Qatar Airways flight, were received at Islamabad’s airport by grieving families.
The tragic incident, which occurred earlier this month, saw the capsizing of a migrant boat carrying around 65 passengers, 16 of whom were Pakistani nationals. While 37 Pakistanis survived, nearly 10 others remain missing.
The repatriation was facilitated by the Government of Pakistan, with formalities completed by the Pakistani mission in Tripoli.
Minister for Housing and Works Riaz Hussain Pirzada was present at the airport to receive the bodies, offering condolences to the families. He assured that all arrangements were made to ensure the bodies were transported to their hometowns.
Pirzada expressed the government’s commitment to supporting the families during this difficult time. “The tragedy that occurred on February 5 has left many families in mourning,” he said. “We stand with the victims’ families and will ensure the return of the remaining bodies.”
The repatriated bodies were identified as Musawir Hussain, Shoaib Ali, Muhammad Ali Shah, Abid Hussain, Musab Hussain, and Shoaib Hussain. All six hailed from Kurram and Orakzai regions in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had earlier confirmed that the Libyan authorities had recovered the bodies of at least 16 Pakistani nationals. The boat capsized near the port of Marsa Dela, located northwest of Zawiya City. In response, the Pakistani government activated a crisis management cell to assist the grieving families and facilitate the repatriation process.
Riaz Hussain Pirzada also highlighted the dangers of illegal migration, calling the incident a tragic lesson. “This tragedy illustrates the risks of attempting to reach Europe through illegal routes,” he said, urging youth to pursue legal migration avenues.
The bodies were handed over to their families, and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation arranged for their transport to the victims’ hometowns. Ambulances and medical teams were also deployed to assist the grieving families during the repatriation process.
Earlier, in a major breakthrough in the investigation of the 2025 Libya boat tragedy, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Kohat Zone arrested two members of an international human trafficking network.
The suspects, Habibur Rehman and Naveed Ahmed, were apprehended in a raid at Pusht Bazaar, Bajaur.
According to officials, the arrested individuals were part of a network operating alongside accomplices based in Italy, including Wajid Ali and Shah Faisal. The gang was involved in smuggling people to Europe through illegal channels. The tragic boat accident claimed the lives of 14 victims from Kurram, who had been lured into the perilous journey.
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