Libya boat tragedy: Bodies of nine people transported to Parachinar

PARACHINAR: The bodies of 12 out of 16 Pakistanis who lost their lives in the Libya boat tragedy have been repatriated to Pakistan and the remains of nine individuals from Parachinar were transported by a helicopter to their hometown.

The tragic incident occurred on February 5, when a boat carrying migrants capsized off the Libyan coast, resulting in multiple fatalities.According to the Foreign Office, 16 of the victims were identified as Pakistanis, 13 of whom belonged to Parachinar. The bodies of 12 victims arrived at Islamabad Airport via Qatar Airways before being transported to Peshawar by ambulances.

From there, the remains of the nine Parachinar victims were airlifted to their hometown, where they were laid to rest in their ancestral graveyards after funeral prayers.Kurram Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmed stated that the remaining four bodies would arrive in Islamabad today (Saturday) and will subsequently be transferred to Parachinar by a helicopter.

Among the deceased was 20-year-old Abid Hussain. His brother, Mushahid Hussain, expressed his grief, stating that Abid was his elder brother and had been married for four years. “His death has shattered our home,” he said.

Saber Hussain mourned the loss of his younger brother, Asif, who left home after completing his matriculation for insecurity and unemployment in Kurram.

“He left without informing us. Losing him is painful, but the situation here is such that if I get a chance, I, too, will leave this place for a peaceful life and better employment,” he said.Mukhtar, the brother of the deceased Ashfaq Hussain, shared his sorrow, saying, “Ashfaq’s death has devastated our family. He was not even married yet. Due to insecurity, he set out on the journey to Europe, but now he has left this world forever.”