Hundreds of friends and relatives welcomed MV Suez’s Chief Officer Ali Rehman at Landakey Check Post in Swat on Saturday. When he reached his hometown of Kanjur, a wave of joy spread through the area, where people had gathered to give him a rousing welcome.
“I am so happy today, my father has finally reached home,” said an ecstatic Huma, Rehman’s daughter, who added that her father had brought lots of toys for her.
Rehman said the authorities in Pakistan had been very cooperative and played a sincere role in the release of the ship. “I never thought I would get back home. I cannot describe how it feels to be with my family again,” he added.
“I am thankful to the entire Pakistani nation, especially Dr Ishratul Ibad, Ansar Burney and the Pakistani media, who played an important part in getting us released,” he remarked.
The MV Suez, a ship which belongs to an Egyptian company, was hijacked by Somali pirates almost 10 months ago. The pirates demanded a $2.1 million ransom. The ship had 22 crew members on board, including four Pakistanis and six Indians.
Local people highly appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani authorities, and chanted slogans expressing gratitude to Ansar Burney for Rehman’s release.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2011.
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