Four Pakistani sailors rescued following the hijacking of the MV Honour 25 off the Somali coast are expected to arrive in Karachi on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said.
In a statement, he said the four crew members — Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani — had been safely recovered after sustained diplomatic efforts by the Foreign Office and Pakistan’s Embassy in Djibouti.
Dar added that the bodies of three other Pakistani crew members who died in the incident — Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari — were also being brought back to Pakistan.
He said authorities were expediting legal and other formalities to ensure the repatriation process was completed as quickly as possible, while offering condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
Three Pakistani nationals — Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain — remain on board the vessel along with its captain.
According to Dar, Pakistan is coordinating with friendly countries to secure the safe release of those still aboard and facilitate their return at the earliest opportunity.
He said the Foreign Office, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s direction, was closely handling the situation and making every possible effort to bring back all affected Pakistani nationals, including the remains of those who died.
The Foreign Office will also continue providing necessary assistance to the families affected by the incident, Dar said.
