Nehal Hashmi says he contacted European Union organizations for hostage release
Nehal Hashmi. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi said Monday that 11 Pakistani crew members held hostage by Somali pirates have not been abandoned and that authorities have been ordered to continue efforts for their release.
Initial details suggest that pirates on Tuesday hijacked a tanker named ‘Owner 25’ in the Gulf of Aden, near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, off the Somali coast. The ship’s crew included its captain, an Indonesian national, along with 11 Pakistanis.
Addressing a press conference at the Governor House in Karachi, Hashmi said the affected families had visited the office seeking help. Regarding the hostages, Hashmi stated that “they are not abandoned; the government supports them,” ensuring that the families will receive support during this time.
Additionally, the governor said he had held talks with Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry as well as the Foreign Secretary, and that the Pakistani embassy was in “full contact” with relevant parties. Hashmi added that the authorities had been given the mandate to continue efforts for the release of the hostages and that contacts had also been established with European Union organizations on the matter.
“We are not staying silent on this issue, work is being done,” he assured.
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Meanwhile, relatives of the hostages told reporters that they last spoke to their loved ones on Friday and that they were facing serious difficulties. “They were very distressed and didn’t even have food,” said a relative. The families also claimed that the captors were armed. “We arrived at the Governor’s House and they have given us hope,” they said.
The families said they live in danger and have urged authorities to ensure the safe return of the hostages. “We will not have peace until our loved ones return home,” they added.
Minister Chaudhry on Friday requested a detailed report on the kidnapping and ordered relevant authorities to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Navy on the recovery of the hostages. So far there is no information on the name or nationality of the owner or the shipping company that operates the hijacked oil tanker. Reports from official sources also suggest that the Ministry of External Affairs is collaborating with the Somali government for the safe release of the Pakistani crew.
Tensions in the Persian Gulf have increased since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran has since closed the Strait of Hormuz, further exacerbating tensions in the Gulf region. Shipping lines in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait now regularly face threats not only from Somali pirates but also from Yemen’s Houthi movement.
