The sailor went missing early September 7 while the Pakistan Navy ship PNS Nasr was anchored at Darwin Harbour in the Northern Territory during the biennial KAKADU military exercises.
According to The Guardian report, police confirmed that the sailor was found hiding in a shed late on Monday night, and was in good health. He is now in the hands of immigration authorities.
It was initially assumed that the sailor had fallen overboard while the ship was anchored in Darwin Harbour but police said it became apparent he did not want to be found after they discovered his plastic-wrapped backpack floating on the water near the Cox peninsula and he was spotted by a worker there near Talc Head.
Exercise KAKADU, running from August 25 to September 12, is Australian navy’s largest maritime warfare exercise. More than 1,000 people, eight warships and 26 aircraft from 15 Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean nations are involved in the exercise.
COMMENTS (8)
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@Sun Tzu: It's because Punjab's resources are shrinking due population explosion and people also want to struggle somewhere else because of class & ethnic origin segregation hitting all time high. Many educated people are scared due their wrong belief of discrimination due to 9/11 terrorism aftermath etc. U.S. & Americas are Still much friendly country toward different nationalities & ethnicities compared to Europe & Australia.
If the Aussies give him asylum, on the basis that if returned to Pakistan, he will face a lifetime of jail, it will be very interesting!!
@kulwant singh: Not all - somehow Panjabis, Gujaratis, Telegus and Malayalees are the only people desperate to leave India. Panjabis most desperate of the lot, often sealing themselves in locked containers, jumping off ships, looking for 'phoren' grooms, selling off all their agricultural land, etc...
Defense personnel don't get political assylum, they are just RETURNED/Sent Back to their job. Oh ya! Jumping ships, trains, buses, border walls or planes is the only way for millions migrants accross the world to get a better life... Their Right! Remember; "Persuit of Happiness" is one of the internationally accepted Right of a FREE individual.
This has nothing to do with a single country but the person's own character. If you guys REALLY want, I am more than happy to list how many Indians tried their best to escape into another country illegally, some of which died in the process. And just recently, If I am right, an Indian air force person tried to escape into Pakistan for some reason. So if anyone here wants to lecture us on such things, look into your own backyard first.
If I speak truth every one of us Indians,Pakistanis,Bangladeshi and Nepal etc will not hesitate to do what this sailor did, I know number of people who skipped from Merchant ships in USA and he also tried the same but failed.
@sharabi:
He was turned over to immigration authorities not the Pakistan navy .. he's going to claim asylum and chances are he won't be returned to Pakistan.
A Real embarrassment for Pakistan, Hope Navy will deal him properly