The Foreign Office announced on Wednesday that it is actively working to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies of three Pakistani nationals who lost their lives during a rescue operation off the Somali coast. The operation aimed to free the hijacked petroleum tanker MT Honour 25 near Puntland.
FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan expressed profound condolences for the deceased, identifying them as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer, and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari. Additionally, four Pakistani crew members sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. The remaining crew members were safely brought ashore at Bandar Beyla.
Pakistan’s embassy team in Djibouti is en route to Bandar Beyla to provide assistance to the affected nationals. The government is maintaining close communication with Somali authorities and other relevant stakeholders through its diplomatic mission and concerned agencies.
In a significant development the previous day, Puntland’s information ministry confirmed that its forces had successfully liberated the tanker and apprehended 16 pirates involved in the hijacking. However, prior to the rescue, the pirates had killed five crew members, including three Pakistanis, one from Myanmar, and one from India.
The Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 was seized by pirates on April 21, approximately 30 nautical miles off Puntland’s coast. At the time, 17 crew members were aboard, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
Ansar Burney, director of the Ansar Burney Trust, verified the casualties and revealed that his organization had repeatedly warned authorities about the dangers facing the crew and urged immediate intervention. He emphasized the need for the safe return of the injured crew and the prompt handover of the deceased to their families.
Among the deceased was second officer Kashif Umar, a Karachi resident from Buffer Zone with 25 years of experience in the merchant navy. Following news of his death, many people visited his home to offer condolences. The Ansar Burney Trust shared that Umar’s last communication indicated that the crew was running critically low on food, drinking water, and other essential supplies.
Last month, Pakistan had requested the International Maritime Organisation’s intervention to ensure the safe release and return of the 10 Pakistani seafarers aboard the tanker.
