The families of 10 Pakistani sailors kidnapped by Somali pirates aboard the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 tanker have expressed deep concern after losing contact with their loved ones. The tanker was seized off Somalia's Puntland region on April 21 with 17 crew members on board, including the 10 Pakistanis. The pirates have threatened to kill the hostages if security forces attempt a rescue operation.
Mahwish Yasir, whose husband Yasir Khan is among the captive sailors, said that none of the families had been able to communicate directly with the crew since the latest developments. "Entire families are deeply distressed and in immense anxiety," she said, adding that they have no idea about the location of the sailors or their condition.
The Ansar Burney Trust International, which has been in contact with the crew and their captors, received a message on September 25 from the tanker's Indonesian captain, Ashari Samadikun, warning of threats against those on board. The pirates have repeatedly threatened the crew with firearms, stating that they will kill them if any attack or military operation is conducted against the vessel.
Qurratulain Muhammad Anis, a legal adviser at the Ansar Burney Trust International, said that the pirates have been demanding $1.9 million for the hostages' release. She added that the Trust had informed Pakistani authorities of the demand and that its last formal communication with the government was on September 16.
The Pakistani government's Foreign Office has previously stated that the Ministry of Human Rights was working with the foreign and maritime affairs ministries to secure the sailors' release. Islamabad has also engaged Somali authorities and sought assistance from the International Maritime Organization to secure the sailors' release.
Aisha Ameen, wife of captive fitter Ameen bin Shams, said that the families were receiving no substantive information about efforts to bring the sailors home. "No one has contacted us," she said, adding that the agencies were only sending messages asking them to pray for their safe return.
The development comes after maritime forces in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region rescued another tanker, SIBU 1, on Friday, with all 20 crew members on board reported safe. Puntland officials said that pirates holding three other tankers, including Honour 25, had subsequently moved south toward Hobyo in neighboring Galmudug state.
Key points
- The families of the kidnapped sailors have lost contact with their loved ones and are worried about their safety.
- The pirates have threatened to kill the hostages if security forces attempt a rescue operation.
- The Pakistani government is working to secure the sailors' release, but the families have not received any substantive information about the efforts.
