Children of kidnapped sailors make emotional appeals for their fathers, uncles and relatives to return before Eidul Azha
An image of the crew members of the Honor 25 tanker posted by Somali pirates. Photo: Express
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday expressed deep alarm over the continued captivity of Pakistani crew members aboard the MT Honor 25 by Somali pirates and demanded urgent action by the Government of Pakistan and all relevant international authorities, it said in a post on X.
The tanker MT Honor 25, operated by an Indonesia-based company, was hijacked off the coast of Somalia on April 21. The vessel carries a crew of 17, including 10 Pakistani nationals. The captain of the ship is from Indonesia.
The post said that “reports that hostages are surviving on contaminated water and minimal food while their families endure severe psychological distress are unacceptable.”
“We stand in solidarity with the families in Karachi protesting for the safe return of their loved ones and demand that the protection of Pakistani seafarers and safeguarding their dignity and safety must remain an urgent national priority,” the HRCP said.
The HRCP is deeply alarmed by the continued captivity of Pakistani crew members on board the MT Honor 25 by Somali pirates and demands urgent action by the Government of Pakistan and all relevant international authorities. Reports that hostages are surviving on contaminated water and…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 14, 2026
On Wednesday, families of Pakistani crew members kidnapped by Somali pirates expressed serious concern over the government’s lack of action even after 23 days of the oil tanker hijacking, saying no concrete efforts had been made for their safe recovery.
At a protest held at the Native Jetty Bridge, affected families said they were not aware of any ransom demands from the pirates and had not received clear updates from the government on negotiations or rescue efforts.
“Our only demand is the safe recovery and return of our loved ones,” said a member of the protesting families, adding that the lives of the hostages remained in danger. They warned that if the Prime Minister did not immediately realize the situation, they would go on a hunger strike along with their children in the coming days.
The families said they had recently managed to speak to the kidnapped crew members, who reported deteriorating conditions aboard the ship. “They told us that their hope of survival is fading, that food and water have run out and that their condition is extremely critical,” they said.
They demanded the immediate appointment of a government-level coordinator, the activation of diplomatic channels and urgent measures for the recovery of the hostages.
The children of the kidnapped sailors made emotional appeals for the return of their fathers, uncles and relatives before Eidul Azha.
Read: Sailors’ families protest as Somalia ship hijacking reaches day 23
Earlier on April 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was in contact with the Somali government over the hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors aboard a hijacked oil tanker, adding that it believed the crew members were safe.
Spokesman Tahir Andrabi said the tanker “Honor 25” was hijacked by pirates near the southeastern coast of Somalia on April 21 while transporting oil to the Puntland region. The ship had 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis.
He said Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti had approached Somali authorities, including its Foreign Ministry, and informed them that the ship was anchored off the coast of Eyl in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia.
“We have good reason to believe that our crew members are safe and sound,” the FO said, adding that Somalia’s foreign ministry had been “very cooperative” and was closely monitoring the situation.
