Somali Pirates to be paid tonight

KARACHI: Rapid developments took place in the issue of the abducted sailors by Somali pirates.

Indian member of parliament, K D Singh gave assurances that the promised $0.5 million in ransom money will be transferred by tonight (Thursday), whereas earlier the remainder of the $2.1 was raised by the owner who offered $1 million, while an international NGO had announced $500,000 for the release.

The amount will be deposited in the bank account of the Egyptian shipping company owner, Abid Elmagaid in Cairo.

The pirates had demanded $2.1 million dollars in ransom.

Governor Sindh, Ishrat-ul-Ibad was also expected to have an important session in Dubai with dignitaries from Pakistan, Egypt and India to determine the mode of transfer of money as well as the issue of the safe release of the abducted sailors.

The 25 sailors comprised of six Indian and four Pakistani nationals besides others, whose ship, the MV Suez was abducted by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden last August.