Four months in pirate captivity, no word from 10 Pakistanis

KARACHI:

Families of 10 Pakistanis held hostage by Somali pirates for four and a half months staged a protest at Numaish Chowrangi on Saturday night, accusing the government of indifference and warning that they would launch a hunger strike if their loved ones were not secured and their whereabouts clarified.

Carrying photographs of the hostages and placards urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to secure their release, the families remained at the protest site with their children until late at night.

The families said they had received no contact with the hostages for more than a month, leaving them increasingly worried about their health and safety. "We have reached the end of our patience," the protesters said, accusing the government of offering assurances without taking effective action. They said they had travelled to Islamabad and met officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but had seen no tangible progress.

The families said letters and assurances were no longer enough and announced plans for sustained protests, followed by a hunger strike.