Family of Captain Wasi launches campaign to raise money

The family of Captain Wasi Hassan, one of four Pakistanis kidnapped by Somali pirates, launched a campaign in Karachi along with the MQM on Thursday to raise money to be paid in ransom to the pirates.

The captain was held hostage along with three other Pakistanis by the pirates on August 8 last year.

Earlier, the pirates extended the deadline for the ransom to fifteen days from the previous two days. They also reduced their demand by a $100,000 to keep the final bid at $2 million dollars.

The shipping company, which employs the four Pakistanis, has offered $1 million, while an international NGO announced $500,000 for the release.

The Ports and Shipping secretary said the government is in touch with the captain's family and doing everything it can for their release. But the family claims it has not received any help from the government.