The Gujranwala Special Judge Central has sentenced two human traffickers, a father and son, for their involvement in the June 2023 Libya boat capsize tragedy.
The court sentenced them to 22 years of rigorous imprisonment each, along with a fine of Rs. 1.4 million each.
The Federal Investigation Agency’s Gujranwala Zone had registered under Sections 17 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979 and Section 6 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act 2018 against the suspects, Muhammad Aslam and Muhammad Nadeem.
According to the prosecution, the convicted traffickers took Rs. 6.2 million from the complainant in exchange for sending his two sons to Italy for employment. However, both migrants died in the boat tragedy in Libya, after which the case was registered and tried before the Special Judge Central.
According to the court’s judgment, both convicts were sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 200,000 each under Section 17 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979. In case of non-payment, they will face an additional three months of simple imprisonment.
Under Section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979, they were awarded seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 200,000 each, with an additional three months of simple imprisonment in case of default.
The court also sentenced both men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined them Rs. 1 million each under Section 6 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act 2018. If they fail to pay the fine, they will undergo an additional six months of imprisonment.
It is also worth noting that a migrant boat carrying passengers met with an accident in Libya on February 5, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 16 Pakistanis.
