The border security forces in Greece and Turkey have killed more than 9,000 Pakistanis, trying to enter the two countries illegally in the past 10 years. In 2004, more than 100 Pakistani nationals had been killed and 2,000 had been arrested while trying to slip into European and other countries without proper documents, revealed a report compiled by a Rawalpindi-based human rights organisation. The report said at least 938 Pakistanis had been killed by the security forces at the 200 kilometre-long border of Greece and Turkey, on the charges of illegal entry.The authorities in the two countries had laid land mines in the border area to prevent illegal foreigners from entering, the report said. The report said the Iranian boarder security forces had killed 13 Pakistanis when they were entering Iran in January 2004, adding that nine Pakistanis had drowned at the Dubai coast in January 2004 and more than 90 Pakistanis were still missing after they got lost in the tidal waves while entering into Australia on August 16, 2004. Ulfat Kazmi, president of the Global organisation, said border security forces of Iran had arrested 1,528 illegal Pakistan immigrant, Turkey's police caught 211 and Greece border security force apprehended 158 Pakistanis who were trying to enter these countries illegally.
Talking to Daily Times, he said the Pakistanis who had been caught at different places suffered in jails and the Pakistani embassies in these countries had not made arrangements for their release. Explaining the modus operandi of the travel agents involved in human trafficking, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sources said they (travel agents) arrange visas and other travelling documents to Sri Lanka, Thailand and Hong Kong or other easy destinations and from there people were sent to European countries without valid travel documents. FIA's immigration staff at the Islamabad airport said up to 17 deportation cases had been registered in 2004.
| That's it? That's the best they can do? 9,000 over ten years? Fewer than three a day? The Greeks, I can understand. Their troops wear pom-poms on their shoes. But the Turks — I know they can do better than that! |