KARACHI: Four Pakistani hostages were among the 22 hostages kept in captivity of Somali pirates were released Monday after payment of huge ransomed and negotiations that lasted for 9 months.
Talking to the media at the Governor’s House, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and well known anthropologist, Human Rights Advocate & Chief of the Ansar Burney Trust, Ansar Burney announced that the captives’ release had been finalized and the Pakistanis would be back within a few days.
Governor Sindh told that the captives were released after payment of $2.1 million to them. The amount was sent to pirates by a chartered plane after that they released the ship.
The operation was monitored from the Suez Canal, a chartered plane was sent to Somalia to pick up the released captives.
Ansar Burney informed that the amount was collected in collaboration with the Ansar Burney Trust, the Sindh government, and the shipping company that owned the hijacked ship. While the shipping company used that amount and transferred to Somali pirates.
Ansar Burney said, “I congratulate Pakistan on this occasion,” adding that this ordeal had become a national issue for Pakistan.
The four Pakistanis were part of a shipping crew who had been taken hostage by Somali pirates and held in captivity for 9 months.
The crew also included Indians, Egyptians and Sri Lankans. Human rights advocate Ansar Burney who was instrumental during the entire process of their release, praised the role which was played by Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul Ibad, Pakistani Consulate in Egypt, Army and President Asif Ali Zardari.
On the occasion, Captain Wasi on telephonic conversation, thanked the nation and the media for the role they played in securing his release and gave special praise to human rights advocate Ansar Burney.
While the family of Capt Wasi including relatives of other hostages were also present on the occasion. Among the released captives include four Pakistanis, six Indians, 11 Egyptians and one Sri Lankan.
No comments:
Post a Comment