Pakistani Families Fear for Safety of Somali Pirates Captured by Navy

Pakistani Families Seek Answers as Hijacked Tanker Crew Remains Hostage

In Pakistan, families of 10 Pakistani sailors held hostage by Somali pirates are searching for answers and assistance. Ayesha Ameen, whose three-year-old daughter Zimal has been asking about her father’s whereabouts, expressed the challenges of explaining his situation to a child. Ameen bin Shams, 29, was among those taken captive on April 21 while serving as a fitter on board the MT Honour 25.

The crew, which includes four Indonesians and one each from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India, has been held for nearly two weeks. Ameen had spent years working at a shipyard in Karachi before securing his first posting on board a merchant vessel. His family lives in Malir Khokhrapar, a lower-middle-class neighborhood of Pakistan’s largest city.

In the months leading up to the hijacking, Ameen had been in touch with his family regularly, sharing updates about his life at sea. He had contributed to his family’s expenses and was excited about their upcoming events, including his sister’s wedding on May 9.

After the ship was hijacked, Ameen made several phone calls to his family, asking them to contact authorities and charities for assistance. One of these calls lasted three minutes, during which he assured his family that he was safe and asked them to pray for his return.

Other families affected by the hijacking have also reported receiving brief monitored calls from their loved ones. Muzammil Ahmed Ansari, 23, learned about his father’s captivity three days after the hijacking. His father, Mehmood Ahmed Ansari, 55, had spent three decades at sea and was serving as third engineer on board the MT Honour 25.

The Pakistani government has not commented on its efforts to secure the release of the hostages.

Source: Al Jazeera