QUETTA: Muslim Murad, the captain of a small fishing boat which drifted away in the Cyclone Phet close to the Gulf of Oman, has safely landed in Iran along with his four crew members. The fishermen were rescued by an Iranian patrol boat.
The engine of Murad’s boat had failed during the cyclone. Through his cell phone Murad had contacted his relatives in Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Iran, Quetta, Karachi, Gwadar and his hometown Jiwani.
He and his crew were feared dead on Sunday when all contact was lost.
Television channels had pleaded with the Pakistan Navy, Coast Guards, and Balochistan Disaster Manag-ement Authority to rescue the boat.
At one point, when Murad’s cell phone balance had run out, journalist Zafar Baloch in Quetta recharged it.
When Cyclone Phet came close to Gwadar on Saturday, Murad’s fishing boat was spotted close to Jiwani. His relatives forced the authorities to go out into the sea and rescue the five fishermen.
They also spotted an Iranian rescue vessel patrolling the Iranian territorial waters.
A request was made to the Iranian boat which rescued Murad’s boat.
Murad’s cousin Ghaffar Hoath confirmed that the crew and the boat are safe in Iran.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.
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