Nehal Hashmi says contact made with European Union organisations for hostages’ release
Nehal Hashmi. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
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.
Further, the governor said he had held discussions with the Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, as well as the foreign secretary, and that Pakistan’s embassy was in “full contact” with relevant parties. Hashmi added that authorities had been given the mandate to pursue efforts for the release of the hostages, and that contacts had also been made with European Union organisations regarding the matter.
“We are not silent on this matter; work is being done,” he assured.
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Meanwhile, family members of the hostages told reporters they last spoke to their loved ones on Friday and that they were facing severe hardship. “They were in great distress and did not even have food,” one relative said. The families also claimed the captors were armed. “We came to the Governor’s House, and they have given us hope,” they said.
The families said they are living in distress and have urged authorities to secure the hostages’ safe return. “We will not have peace until our loved ones return home,” they added.
Minister Chaudhry on Friday sought a detailed report on the hijacking, directing relevant authorities to coordinate with the Foreign Ministry and the Pakistan Navy for the recovery of the hostages. There is no information so far about the name or nationality of the owner or the shipping company operating the hijacked tanker. Reports from official sources also suggest that the Foreign Ministry is engaging with the Somali government for the safe release of the Pakistani crew.
Tensions in the Persian Gulf have heightened since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. Since then, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, further excerbating tensions in the Gulf region. Shipping lines in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait are now regularly facing threats not only from Somali pirates but also from Yemen’s Houthi movement.
