Somalia hijacking: 4 injured Pakistanis return home with remains of three sailors
Four injured Pakistanis return home
Four Pakistani crew members injured during an operation to recover a hijacked oil tanker off Somalia are on their way to Karachi. The remains of three Pakistani sailors killed in the incident are also being brought home.
The Foreign Office said Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan departed Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They are expected to arrive in Karachi aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694.
Pirates hijacked the oil tanker in April
The seven Pakistanis were among 10 Pakistani crew members aboard the oil tanker MT Honour 25, which Somali pirates hijacked in April. The vessel also had seven Indonesian sailors, one Indian and one Sri Lankan on board.
For around five months, there was little progress in negotiations to secure the crew’s release. The ransom demand was initially reported to be around $3 million, while concerns grew over the hostages’ health and their lack of food, clean water and medicine.
Somali forces launch recovery operation
On September 29, Somali maritime police recovered the Palau-flagged oil tanker after it had been held by pirates for more than five months. Authorities said 21 suspected pirates were arrested, while efforts continued to locate other people involved.
According to an official account, the pirates killed five crew members before the security operation began. The victims included three Pakistanis, one sailor from Myanmar and one from India.
However, Quratulain of the Ansar Burney Trust gave a different account of the killings. She said the pirates brought the hostages onto the deck, tied their hands and threatened to kill them if security forces approached without paying the ransom.
She added that the pirates opened fire as security forces moved in, killing five sailors. According to her account, the ransom demand had been reduced from $3 million to $1 million.
Government announces relief for families
The Foreign Office said it had remained “actively engaged” in efforts to secure the sailors’ release. Pakistani diplomatic representatives in Djibouti and Ethiopia helped see off the injured crew members and the remains of those killed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a relief package of Rs12.5 million for the families of the deceased Pakistani sailors. The returning crew members and the repatriation of the remains mark an important step for the affected families after months of uncertainty.
The hijacking of MT Honour 25 highlights the dangers faced by sailors working in waters where piracy remains a threat. The crew endured months of uncertainty, and the operation to recover the vessel ended with the deaths of five sailors.
The return of the injured Pakistanis and the remains of their colleagues will bring some closure to their families. The government’s relief package may provide financial support, while questions about the incident and the safety of seafarers remain important.
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