Three Pakistanis rescued from Somali pirates head home
The three Pakistani crew members who survived a pirate attack off Somalia are set to return home on Wednesday, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar saying they have departed for Pakistan.
In a post on X, Dar said the three Pakistani crew members of the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 were en route back to Karachi after being rescued from Somali pirates and would soon be reunited with their families.
Dar said that Imran Ali, Husain Yousuf and Muhammad Yasin were en route to safely return to Karachi from Addis Ababa later in the day.
He said Pakistan’s ambassador in Addis Ababa met the three crew members and ensured that they were provided with all necessary facilities and services during their stay in the Ethiopian capital.
Ishaq Dar said the Foreign Office and the Government of Pakistan had made every effort to secure the safe return of all Pakistani crew members.
“I am grateful to all those who supported these efforts,” he added.
While welcoming the safe return of the Pakistani nationals, the deputy prime minister said the government remained deeply saddened by the loss of three Pakistani crew members.
“May Allah grant them eternal peace and give strength to their families,” he prayed.
The deputy prime minister said Pakistan remained firmly committed to working with international partners to combat piracy and ensure the safety and security of seafarers and maritime routes.
According to the Foreign Ministry, crew members Muhammad Yasin, Imran Ali and Syed Hussain Yousaf will arrive in Karachi at 4.40pm on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The Foreign Ministry’s Karachi office has received details of the crew members’ arrival, while the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and Pakistan Airports Authority have been directed to complete the necessary arrangements at the airport.
Of the three crew members, Muhammad Yasin is from Peshawar, while Imran Ali and Syed Hussain Yousaf are from Karachi.
Yasin will be taken to Peshawar after arriving in Karachi, while the other two will proceed to their homes.