Pakistani Crew Members Safe, Others Repatriated After Hijacked Oil Tanker Recovery
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Friday that four of the 10 Pakistani crew members of MT Honour 25, an oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates, had been “safely retrieved” and were scheduled to arrive in Karachi on October 3. The four crew members – Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams, and Usman Ghani – were retrieved following “sustained efforts” by the Foreign Office (FO) and Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti.
The remaining three Pakistani crew members – Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad, and Syed Yousuf Hussain – remain aboard the vessel, along with the captain. Dar said the Foreign Affairs Ministry, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, “remains fully seized of the matter” and was continuously making every effort to ensure the return of all Pakistani nationals, including the bodies of the deceased, at the earliest.
Repatriation Efforts Underway for Deceased Crew Members
Meanwhile, the “mortal remains” of three Pakistani crew members – Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer, and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari – who “tragically” lost their lives were also being repatriated to Pakistan. Dar expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, who are going through a deeply painful time.
The Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, had earlier confirmed that the vessel was transporting oil to Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region and had 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis. Somali maritime police recovered the Palau-flagged oil tanker amid reports of casualties among the crew.
Relief Package Announced for Families of Deceased Crew Members
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a relief package worth Rs12.5 million for the families of Pakistani crewmen killed during the operation to recover the tanker. The package includes financial support, free housing, and free education for their children.
The prime minister spoke with Umer’s son, Azhan Kashif, on the phone to extend his condolences and express his grief. He assured him that the government would make arrangements to bring the bodies of the deceased Pakistanis back to Pakistan as soon as possible.
Original Article: 4 Pakistani crew members from hijacked oil tanker to arrive in Karachi tomorrow: DPM Dar — Dawn