Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi said on Monday that 11 Pakistani crew members held hostage by Somali pirates have not been abandoned, and that authorities have been directed to pursue efforts for their release.
Initial details suggest the pirates hijacked an oil tanker named ‘Owner 25’ in the Gulf of Aden near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait off the Somali coast on Tuesday. The vessel’s crew included its captain, an Indonesian national, along with 11 Pakistanis.
Speaking at a press conference at the Governor’s House in Karachi, Hashmi said the affected families had visited the office seeking assistance. Regarding the hostages, Hashmi stated that “they are not abandoned; the government stands with them,” assuring that the families would be supported during this time.