Detained in Libya: Last Pakistani crew member of Morning Glory awaits freedom

Brother of Ghufran Marghoob cites threats to his life.

KARACHI:

Almost a week after five out of the six crew members of Morning Glory returned home, family members of Ghufran Marghoob, still with the Libyan authorities, appealed to the government to make efforts for his release citing threats to his life.

“The offloading of the vessel has been completed but my brother has not been released by the Libyan government. His life is in danger as the rebels can attack the ship and take them hostage again,” said Hassan, Maghroob’s elder brother.

While the rest of the five Pakistan crew members including the captain returned to Pakistan on Saturday, Ghufran, chief officer of the Morning Glory, was asked by the Libyan authorities to stay back and help in the offloading process.

Hassan said that for the past 10 days his brother was being kept in the ship some three nautical miles near a port in Libya. “Why is my brother not handed over to the Pakistani officials when all the work on the ship is completed?” he asked.

According to him, Morning Glory, the oil tanker captured by Libyan rebels last month, and which was set free after an operation from US Navy Seals, was being ordered to go to the same port from where it was earlier captured.

“The ship is said to leave for the same port from which rebels had taken the crew hostage last month. If this happens God alone knows what will happen with my brother.”

Hassan added that the Pakistani embassy’s efforts had so far been futile.

“There is no system there so our authorities are being called to one place or another, and not being given any information as to when he will be released.” He requested the prime minister, the president and the Foreign Office to contact Libyan authorities and secure his brother’s freedom.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2014.