4 rescued Pak crew members arrive today

ISLAMABAD:

Four of the 10 Pakistani crew members affected by the hijacking of MT Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia will arrive in Karachi on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday.

"Following sustained efforts by the Foreign Office and our Embassy in Djibouti, four of the ten Pakistani crew members (Mr Yasir Khan, Mr Aqeel Khan, Mr Amin bin Shams and Mr Usman Ghani) affected by the hijacking of MV Honour 25 off the coast of Somalia have been safely retrieved and are scheduled to arrive in Karachi tomorrow, 3 October, InshaAllah," Dar said in a post on X.

He said the mortal remains of three Pakistani crew members who "tragically lost their lives" were being repatriated to Pakistan, with "all necessary legal and other formalities" being fast-tracked.

"The mortal remains of the three Pakistani crew members (Late Rafi Ullah Khan, Late Syed Kashif Umer and Late Mahmood Ahmed Ansari) who tragically lost their lives are being repatriated to Pakistan, with all necessary legal and other formalities being fast-tracked to expedite the process in this regard," he said.

"My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families, who are going through a deeply painful time," Dar said. The remaining three Pakistani crew members - Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain - "continue to be aboard the vessel", along with the captain. "We are actively coordinating with our friendly countries to facilitate their safe extraction and earliest possible return to Pakistan, inshaAllah," the minister said on X.

The Foreign Office "remains fully seized of the matter" and was "continuously making every effort" to ensure the return of all Pakistani nationals, "including bodies of the deceased at the earliest and will continue extending all possible support to the affected families", he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday spoke by telephone with Azhan Kashif, son of the Pakistani national Kashif Umar who lost his life in Somalia.

The prime minister expressed heartfelt condolences to Azhan Kashif over the passing of his father, Syed Kashif Umar.

"We fully share in your grief," he said adding, "May Allah Almighty grant him a high place in Paradise and give your family the strength to bear this shock."

He assured the families that the government will bring the mortal remains of his father and the other two deceased Pakistanis back to Pakistan as soon as possible.

Directives were issued to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all other relevant institutions to maintain direct contact with the families of Kashif Umar and the other two deceased individuals at every stage.

Kashif Umar was among the three Pakistanis who lost their lives during the rescue operation of a hijacked ship in Somalia.

The prime minister announced financial assistance, free education for children, and housing for the families of the three Pakistanis— Syed Kashif Umar, Mahmood Ahmed Ansari, and Rafiullah Khan - who lost their lives during the rescue operation off the coast of Somalia.

He announced financial assistance of Rs12.5 million for each of the families of the Pakistani citizens who lost their lives during the rescue operation.

The prime minister announced the provision of free education and healthcare facilities by the government for the children of the deceased Pakistanis.

The Prime Minister further announced that the government will provide a house to each of the affected families.

He stated that the bereaved families would not be left alone during this difficult time and that the government would provide all possible support and assistance.

He directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Embassy to expedite the process of repatriating the bodies to Pakistan while maintaining constant contact with Somali authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

He also instructed that all possible measures be taken to provide the best medical care for the injured Pakistanis and to ensure the safe return of the remaining Pakistani personnel.