The Pakistan government announced a commission of inquiry into the fatal shipwreck off Pylos today.
The committee has already been constituted by the decision of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and within a week, it will submit a finding on further action. From the state officials' statements, it appears that the Pakistani government will take legal action against Greece, possibly also against the EU.
Such a move certainly has not only legal but mainly political dimensions, SLPress reports.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has assured that the government will take strict action on the fatal sinking of the fishing boat in Greek waters and the report of the Pakistani authorities will be submitted in a week, attributing responsibility to those involved in the accident intentionally or negligently.
"The commission of inquiry will present its report in a week and the federal government will take further action," he added.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the official news agency of Pakistan APP, said that the committee will ascertain the events that led to the overturning and sinking of the vessel in Greece, in an area of responsibility of the Greek authorities.
In addition to identifying gaps in the Greek and European mechanisms, "which exposed precious human lives to the peculiar situation of human trafficking in this particular case, similar incidents of the recent past will be investigated."
Pakistani game in and out
The committee will analyse relevant incidents and measures will be taken in accordance with the international legal framework. International coordination will also be sought for both the investigation and prevention, control and punishment of human trafficking in the future.
The Pakistani government also promises to review the laws and, where necessary, the anti-trafficking legislation will be strengthened. Pakistani authorities have arrested 14 people who are being questioned about their involvement in the ring that transported the Pakistani migrants to the fatal fishing boat.
It is estimated that more than 300 Pakistanis perished in last Wednesday's shipwreck off Pylos.
Yesterday was a day of national mourning in the country. Of course, the problem of illegal immigration of Pakistanis to the EU did not arise with the tragic shipwreck of Pylos, it is chronic and many times in the past it has concerned the EU as Pakistan refuses or hinders the return of irregular immigrants.
However, the fatal accident off Pylos and the questions raised about the handling of the Greek authorities, it seems now, opens a new political tug-of-war between the EU and Pakistan, which will most likely centre on Greece.
And Ankara against Greece
The representative of the ruling party of Turkey, Justice and Development Party (AKP), Omer Çelik, had also requested the "establishment of an international commission of inquiry into the tragedy off Pylos" in his statements yesterday.
He even blamed Greece for all the shipwrecks that have occurred in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, speaking of "crimes against humanity."
Turkish president Tayyip Erdoğan contacted the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif this morning and conveyed the condolences of the Turkish people, according to the announcement of the Turkish Presidency.
AKP's government partner, Devlet Bahçeli, also took a position on the matter.
The president of the nationalist party MHP stated that "in Greece. off the coast of Morea, on June 14, a boat sank with the result that 78 people died and another 500 were missing. For this drama and disaster the Greek is responsible government, which also lied and must be held accountable."
"The Aegean and the Mediterranean must cease to be the seas of death. Turkey needs our government which represents the victory in Karabakh, the wisdom in foreign policy, the will in Cyprus and the national attitude in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean," he added.
The nine suspects to the investigator
The nine Egyptians accused of being traffickers were brought before the Kalamata investigator today to plead guilty. The defendants have denied the charges (felony) and argue that they were among the passengers who wanted to immigrate to Italy.
Testimonies are expected to be marathons. The Coast Guard announced that the investigations in the area of the wreck are continuing after the discovery of at least two piles in the evening.
READ MORE: Ömer Çelik: "Greece is turning the Mediterranean into a graveyard".
