Pakistani hostages held by Somali pirates send new distress message
The crew members are aboard MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker hijacked off Puntland, Somalia, on April 21. The ship was carrying 17 to 19 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis, when armed pirates took control of it.
Hostages raise alarm over health
Two distress videos dated August 7 showed the Pakistani and foreign crew members looking extremely weak and unwell. The hostages appealed to the Pakistani government to contact the pirates and take immediate steps to secure their release.
Yasir Khan, one of the Pakistani hostages, said several crew members had fallen ill and had no access to medicine. He urged the government, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry to act “before it is too late”.
Khan also appealed to Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to “please do something for us”. He said many efforts had already been made regarding their release.
Another hostage, Hussain Yousuf, said, “More than a hundred days have passed and still nothing is known about what is happening to us, or what will happen to us.” He asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to act before “very bad news” arrived.
Govt says negotiations are difficult
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi expressed concern over the continued captivity of the crew. He said an inter-ministerial process involving the Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and other agencies was monitoring the case.
“The main challenge is that these individuals are being held in an autonomous region of Somalia,” Andrabi said. He added that securing their release involved “particularly complex and difficult” operational steps.
“The operational steps required to secure their release are particularly complex and difficult. The process of negotiating with their captors is also a major challenge.”
Andrabi said Somalia’s tribal system and the role of influential figures had made the situation more complicated. “However, we hope for a better outcome,” he said, adding that Pakistan remained in “constant contact” with Somalia’s government, authorities and relevant international organisations.
Ransom and ownership questions remain
The Foreign Office spokesperson expressed sympathy for the families of the hostages and said the government understood their concerns. “This matter remains a priority and under our constant monitoring,” Andrabi said, adding that “all possible efforts” were being made for their early release and return.
The hostages include 10 Pakistanis, seven Indonesians including the captain, one Indian and one Sri Lankan. Since the hijacking, the crew has sent several emotional videos and audio messages, reporting shortages of clean water, food and medicine.
The pirates have reportedly demanded around $3 million in ransom, but there has been no reported breakthrough in negotiations or payment. The case has also been complicated by an “ownership crisis” because the actual ownership of the vessel remains unclear.
Earlier, the pirates released videos and made calls to families to pressure them over the ransom demand. Those communications reportedly stopped after mid-June, making the latest distress message particularly concerning.
The latest appeal shows that the crew remains in a difficult situation after more than 100 days. Their reported health problems and lack of basic supplies have increased pressure on authorities to find a solution.
The government says negotiations are complicated by the situation in the Somali region and the involvement of different local figures. The return of communication after a long silence could increase concern among the families and put fresh focus on efforts to secure the hostages’ release.
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