Four MT Honour 25 crew arrive in Karachi tomorrow, Dar announces
The MT Honour 25 crew arrive Karachi on Saturday, Dar announces
The MT Honour 25 crew arrive Karachi on Saturday, October 3: four Pakistani sailors from the hijacked oil tanker will land home tomorrow, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Friday.
Dar said the four sailors, Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani, had been “safely retrieved” following sustained efforts by the Foreign Office and Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti. Their return marks the first homecoming of survivors from the vessel seized by Somali pirates in April.
MT Honour 25 crew arrive Karachi as repatriation gathers pace
The deputy prime minister also confirmed that the mortal remains of three Pakistani crew members, Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari, who were killed by the pirates were being repatriated to Pakistan.
“All necessary legal and other formalities [were] being fast-tracked to expedite the process,” Dar said. “My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families, who are going through a deeply painful time.”
Three more Pakistani crew members, Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain, remain aboard the vessel along with the captain. “We are actively coordinating with our friendly countries to facilitate their safe extraction and earliest possible return to Pakistan,” Dar said.
He added that the Foreign Affairs Ministry, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, “remains fully seized of the matter” and would continue extending “all possible support” to the affected families.
What happened to the hijacked tanker
Armed pirates hijacked the Palau-flagged oil tanker off the southeastern coast of Somalia on April 21. The vessel was transporting oil to Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region and had 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistanis, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi had said.
On September 29, the Puntland Maritime Police Force recovered the tanker in a planned operation in the Dharin-Bar area of Bandar Beyla district. The force later announced the recovered vessel was “safe and under the Puntland government’s control”, with 21 suspected pirates apprehended.
Before the operation began, the pirates on board killed five of the crew: three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian. Reuters reported, citing Puntland’s state television, that the detained pirates would be brought to court.
What happens next
The immediate focus is Saturday’s homecoming in Karachi and the return of the three bodies, with legal formalities being fast-tracked. The government says it is working with partner countries to bring home the three remaining Pakistani crew members and the captain still aboard the vessel.
Frequently asked questions
When do the MT Honour 25 crew arrive in Karachi?
Four Pakistani crew members, Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani, are scheduled to arrive in Karachi on Saturday, October 3.
Who are the three Pakistani crew members who died?
Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari were killed by the pirates before the rescue operation. Their remains are being repatriated to Pakistan.
Who is still aboard the vessel?
Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain remain on the tanker with the captain. Pakistan says it is coordinating with friendly countries for their safe return.
When was the MT Honour 25 hijacked?
The Palau-flagged tanker was seized by Somali pirates off the southeastern coast of Somalia on April 21. Puntland maritime police recovered it on September 29, apprehending 21 suspected pirates.
