Somali Pirates Demand Direct Talks with Pakistan Government for Release of Hijacked Crew
The trust’s chairman, Ansar Burney, confirmed that contact with the pirates has been successfully established. However, he stated that no practical steps have yet been taken by the Pakistani authorities to secure the release of the hostages.
The pirates reportedly informed the trust that they will present their demands only to official representatives of Pakistan. They have also shared photographs of the 17 crew members currently in captivity, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
The oil tanker Honor 25 was hijacked on April 21, and families of the abducted crew members have been in distress for the past two weeks. Qurat-ul-Ain, Director of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust, said the pirates have also attempted to contact the governments of Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, as seven crew members belong to those countries. She further claimed that even an email sent by the pirates to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received a response.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government maintains that it is in continuous contact with relevant parties to ensure the safe recovery of its citizens.
Families of the hostages have urged immediate action. An 80-year-old Karachi resident, Umar Farooq, appealed for the safe return of his son, Kashif Umar, who is among the kidnapped crew. Another victim, Imran Ali, is also among those held captive, with his brother Ali Akbar calling on the government to take urgent steps to bring all پاکستانی شہری back home safely.