Two months on, fate of 10 Pakistani sailors held by Somali pirates hangs in balance

The fate of 10 Pakistani sailors aboard the MT Honour 25, an oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates nearly two months ago, hangs precariously in the balance. Their families, desperate for their safe return, are voicing strong criticism against the Pakistani government, accusing it of apathy and failing to take meaningful action.

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The pirates are demanding ransom but the Pakistani government has refused to negotiate with the Somali pirates. It can only deal with the company that owns the tanker, which is to negotiate with the pirates. But it turns out that the company claiming to own the tanker initially is some third party. The actual owners are not coming forward.

Families of the crew members have been actively seeking help, but they report facing significant obstacles, primarily from their own government. According to Ayesha Ameen, wife of fitter Ameen Bin Shams, the pirates are demanding ransom, but the Pakistani government refuses to negotiate directly. The situation is complicated by uncertainty over the tanker's actual ownership, with a third party claiming ownership rather than the actual owners coming forward.

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We are constantly being told by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that this is an international issue. The ship is also anchored in a no-go area and not in international waters.

Protests have been organized, including one outside the Karachi Press Club led by the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). Families are frustrated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' stance that it is an international issue, despite the ship being anchored in a non-international waters area. For many, like Ayesha Ameen, this is a first-time assignment for their loved ones, adding to their anxiety. Her husband had even paid a $500 guarantee amount for the job.

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It was his very first time on such an assignment and to get this job he had even paid $500 initially as a guarantee amount.

Compounding the distress are reports of the sailors' deteriorating health. Third Engineer Mahmood Ahmed Ansari and Second Officer Syed Kashif Umer Naqvi are diabetic, and others are suffering from infections as their condition weakens. Videos released by the crew reveal they are running out of clean water, food, and medicine. Ubaidullah, brother of oiler Rafiullah, stated that the men, who had food provisions for only one month, have been surviving on plain boiled rice for over a month due to the hijacking. Ali Akbar, brother of oiler Imran Ali, expressed his family's sorrow, noting that their children miss their fathers while the government offers only false assurances.

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Third Engineer Mahmood Ahmed Ansari and Second Officer Syed Kashif Umer Naqvi are diabetic. The rest are also catching infections as they grow weaker by the day. Please pray for them.