After spending weeks trying to reach Europe illegally from Libya, Muhammad Naeem Butt decided to turn back, abandoning a dangerous journey that has already claimed the lives of hundreds of Pakistanis. He made this decision after witnessing a tragedy where an overloaded fishing trawler, carrying up to 350 Pakistanis among the 600 who drowned, sank off the coast of Greece.
Butt, along with many other young men from Khuiratta in Kashmir, had paid human traffickers to smuggle them to Europe, hoping to send remittances back home to support their families. However, the harrowing experiences and risks involved made them reconsider their decision.
To finance the journey, Butt sought help from friends and family, and his wife even sold her wedding jewelry to raise the required funds. The journey involved commercial flights to Dubai and Egypt, followed by an overland route to Libya. However, the real ordeal began when he spent two months in a makeshift camp with other migrants, waiting to board a cargo ship for the Mediterranean crossing.
Instead of a cargo ship, they were cramped onto a rickety fishing boat and spent eight days struggling in international waters. They were fired upon and rammed by a Libyan naval vessel, surviving only because the naval ship left them when a storm hit. Eventually, they were towed back to port and thrown into jail where they faced brutal conditions.
News of the sinking of a migrant boat off Greece reached Butt’s hometown, causing immense distress to his family. His wife, Mehwish Matloob, experienced profound anguish during that time. Thankfully, Butt managed to get out of jail and inform his family that he was alive.
The Mediterranean route remains one of the most dangerous migration paths, with numerous migrants reported missing each year. Despite the risks, families see the potential for prosperity through remittances from those who make it to Europe. This has created a noticeable disparity between families with relatives abroad and those without, leading to envy among some communities.
The tragic experiences of those attempting the perilous journey have made them question the value of such endeavors, realizing that life’s quality lies in the time spent with loved ones, rather than the pursuit of money.