On Wednesday, a tragic incident occurred off the Greek island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea when a boat carrying migrants capsized, resulting in at least two confirmed deaths.
Port police reported that an inflatable dinghy, originating from the Turkish coast, ran aground on the rocky shores of Agios Georgios, east of Lesbos, at around 3:00 am local time due to strong winds.
Rescue efforts revealed that there were 36 individuals on board the boat. Of these, 18 migrants managed to disembark, and two bodies were discovered in the sea near the coast, as confirmed by an official from the coast guard’s office. Unfortunately, the remaining 16 people dispersed after the boat ran aground and were still missing.
Due to adverse weather conditions prompting a sailing ban, coast guard patrol boats were unable to conduct search operations at sea on Wednesday. Lesbos serves as a significant entry point for migrants attempting to enter the European Union, often undertaking perilous sea journeys. Greece, with support from the European Union’s border protection agency Frontex, has increased patrols in the Aegean Sea.
This tragic incident follows a similar event in June, where a dilapidated boat capsized and sank off Pylos in the Peloponnese, resulting in the drowning of 82 individuals, with hundreds reported missing. Subsequently, forty survivors initiated a group lawsuit against Greek authorities, alleging negligence in taking appropriate actions before the boat sank.
IHC Judge Seeks Prosecution Of Intelligence Agencies Officials In Enforced Disappearance Cases
Meanwhile, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) emphasized that enforced disappearances persist due to a lack of belief in the rule of law within state institutions. He urged for the prosecution of intelligence agencies’ officials, highlighting the need for accountability.
During a hearing of a petition filed by lawyer Imaan Mazari seeking the recovery of missing Baloch students, Justice Kayani expressed the possibility of holding intelligence officers accountable by having the police include them as accused in supplementary statements of FIRs.
