The families of the crew members expressed deep concern for the safety of their loved ones.
ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Office said on Thursday it was in contact with the Somali government over the hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors aboard a hijacked oil tanker, adding that it believed the crew members were safe.
During his weekly press briefing, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the tanker “Honor 25” was hijacked by pirates near the southeastern coast of Somalia on April 21 while carrying oil to the Puntland region. The ship had 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis.
He said the Pakistani embassy in Djibouti contacted Somali authorities, including their foreign ministry, and was informed that the ship was anchored off the coast of Eyl in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia.
“We have good reason to believe that our crew members are safe,” FO said, adding that the Somali Foreign Ministry had been “very cooperative” and was closely monitoring the situation.
According to the statement, Somali authorities had assured Pakistan that any updates regarding the ship and the safety of the crew would be shared promptly. “They are doing their best to ensure the safety and well-being of our detained Pakistanis and all crew members,” the statement said, noting that local authorities and the ship’s owner were in contact with the pirates.
Meanwhile, the families of the crew members have expressed deep concern over the safety of their loved ones, saying 10 days have passed since the ship was hijacked and no tangible progress has been made towards their recovery.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, the relatives said the lives of the kidnapped crew members remained under serious threat due to shortages of food and water on board the ship.
