Somali pirates demand direct talks with Pakistan

Ansar Burney Trust says sea raiders shared photos of 17 crew, including 10 Pakistanis

KARACHI:

The Ansar Burney Welfare Trust has established direct contact with Somali pirates who seized the Honor 25 oil tanker, in an effort to secure the release of the abducted crew members. However, the pirates insist that they will present their demands only to representatives of the Pakistani government.

The pirates have also sent recent photographs of the 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani citizens, who are being held hostage. The Honor 25 was taken over on April 21 by Somali pirates, and for the past two weeks, the families of the kidnapped Pakistani crew members have been deeply worried about their loved ones.

Ansar Burney, head of the trust, said although contact with the pirates has been successfully established, no practical steps have yet been taken by the government.

Qurat-ul-Ain Advocate, Director of the Ansar Burney Trust, said the pirates have clearly stated that they would present their demands only to a representative of the Government of Pakistan. However, she added that the government has not responded even to an email sent by the pirates to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She further said that the pirates had also contacted the governments of Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, as seven crew members from those countries were also being held captive on the vessel.

Meanwhile, the federal government maintained that it was in contact with the relevant parties to secure the release of the Pakistani hostages.

Eighty-year-old Umar Farooq is striving for the safe release of his son. "I have been forced to go from place to place in distress at this age," he said. His son, Kashif Umar, is among those held on the ship.

Ali Akbar, the brother of another hostage, Imran Ali, appealed to the government to take immediate action so that the Pakistani captives could return home safely. He said the latest photographs of the hostages have brought some relief, as they confirm they are still alive.

The families of the hostages gathered at the Ansar Burney Trust office and collectively demanded that the government at least form a committee to keep them informed about efforts being made for the release of the Pakistani captives. They said they do not know where to turn or whom to approach for help in securing the release of their loved ones.