Families protest over Pakistani sailors held by Somali Pirates

Families of 10 Pakistani sailors allegedly held hostage by Somali pirate groups have staged a protest, demanding the immediate release of their loved ones.

The protesters, who gathered in Karachi, expressed concern over the safety of the sailors and appealed to both the Pakistani and Somali governments to take urgent action to secure their release.

“It has been almost 140 days, and there is still no news about our people,” Mahwish Yasir, whose husband Yasir Khan is among the captive sailors, told Arab News.

“Our last communication with them was a month and a half ago. Since then, we haven’t spoken to them at all.”

Yasir said the lack of communication had left the families uncertain about the sailors’ health and living conditions and warned they could escalate their protest if they continued to receive no answers.

“Now, our last resort will be that if the government still doesn’t give us an answer, we will go on a hunger strike,” she said.

They said they have been unable to receive regular information about the sailors because of pressure from the pirates, who are demanding ransom payments for their freedom.

Obaidullah Khan, brother of captive sailor Rafiullah Khan, said his brother was the sole breadwinner of his family, which includes three children.

“We are wandering from pillar to post,” Khan said. “The government has not contacted us at all. They should at least give us a day, a month, or even a week, just tell us a date when they will return.”

The families also criticized what they described as slow government efforts to secure the release of their relatives, warning that the sailors remain in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.

Mustaqbal