Somali Pirates: $1.6 million transferred into account

Pakistan paid its share of ransom for the release of hostages held since last year.

KARACHI: Pakistan has paid its share of the ransom for the release of the people being held hostage by the Somali pirates and has transferred $600,000 into the account on Monday.

The owner of the shipping company also transferred $1 million as promised. After the pirates confirmed the transfer, they remove the hostage blindfolds.

The pirates have been holding four Pakistanis and 18 other men since August last year. Social worker Ansar Burney said that Indian Senator KD Singh should be held responsible if the pirates harm any of the captives because he has failed to pay his share.

Out of the $2.1 million being demanded for the release, Singh was supposed to pay $500,000, which is the only amount of the ransom left. The deadline is May 22.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2011.