Pakistani family of six dies after migrant boat sinks off Turkish coast

Tragedy struck a family of six from Quetta, as they lost their lives in a heartbreaking incident when the migrant boat they were on capsized off the Turkish coast.

Syed Ali Agha, residing on Alamdar Road in Quetta, his wife Tahira Bibi, and their four children – Subhan (14), Sajjad (12), Fatima (10), and Kausar (5) – perished in this unfortunate event.

Family members received the devastating news through a phone call from Turkey on March 20, confirming the loss of their loved ones.

Despite efforts to seek assistance from the Pakistan embassy in Turkey, the process to repatriate the bodies was deemed complex and financially burdensome. Consequently, they consented to the authorities burying them in Turkey.

Ali Agha's brother-in-law revealed that they had relocated to Iran after their marriage due to the targeted killings of the Hazara tribe and financial difficulties. Several years later, Ali Agha had moved to Turkey, where he attempted to seek a better future for his family. Tragically, their hopes were shattered when their boat sank during their journey to Greece in mid-March.

The Turkish authorities have recovered 23 bodies from the incident so far, underscoring the grim toll of the migrant crisis on vulnerable families seeking refuge and opportunity.