Senate committee takes notice of two Pakistan dead in Turkey

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Interior Rehman Malik has taken notice of the death of two Pakistani migrants in the tragic incident of a boat capsizing in eastern Turkey.

Rehman Malik said that in the incident, two Pakistanis died while 11 others were injured. It’s distressing that there were 23 Pakistanis on board the ill-fated boat among the 71 migrants.

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The PPP senator summoned information on the incident from the ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey and the director-general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Meanwhile, the chairman of the committee asked the Foreign Ministry to arrange for the safe return of the stranded Pakistani migrants in Turkey.

On the other hand, the Foreign Office spokesman said in a statement earlier on December 27, “We heard with deep sorrow about the tragic incident of a boat capsizing in Lake Van, east of Turkey’s Bitlis Province, carrying nationals from various countries, including Pakistan.”

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The foreign office spokesperson further said that Pakistan’s embassy in Turkey and Istanbul’s Consulate General are in contact with local Turkish authorities to seek more information and provide all necessary assistance to the affected Pakistani nationals.