52 bodies recovered from container in Hazar Ganj

QUETTA: At least 52 dead bodies have been recovered from a container in the Hazar Ganj area Saturday. According to Edhi sources, more than 24 survivors, crammed into a container and said to be in a semi- or sub-concsious state, have been shifted to the Bolan Medical College (BMC). According to reports, the container was being transported from Afghanistan to Iran via Pakistan on the way to Europe. One survivor, talking to SAMAA after regaining consciousness said, "We belong to North Waziristan." Sources said around 150 people had been bundled into a container, which is being said to be a classic case of human trafficking. Deaths occured due to dwindling supply of oxygen in the container. Most of the deceased belonged to Afghanistan and tribal areas. SAMAA's Noor Elahi Bugti told that the driver of the vehicle had managed to escape. The police has arrested the contractor of the container. According to reports, the container was being transported from Afghanistan to Iran via Pakistan. Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Asma Jehangir, talking exclusively to SAMAA said, "This is a case of human trafficking." "There are strict penalties for human trafficking in Iran," she added. The truck had apparently been driven in to Pakistan by human smugglers aiming to take the people to Iran, said government official Naseem Lari. The truck carrying the container had been left at a truck stop on the outskirts of the city of Quetta and police had been alerted after passers-by heard cries for help, said police official Abid Jadoon. A rescue worker at the scene said the truck was filled with dead and unconscious people. "We received information about 110 bodies but we have found around 50 bodies. The rest of the people were unconscious, and have been moved to BMC hospital," said Mohammad Abbas. Jadoon said about 100 people in total were in the container and the dead had suffocated in its tightly sealed interior.