Families Demand Rescue Of 10 Pakistani Crew Aboard Oil Tanker Seized By Somali Pirates For Over 23 Days

The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged product tanker, remains under the control of Somali pirates 23 days after it was seized off Somalia’s Puntland region.

The vessel was taken on April 21, about 30 nautical miles from the coast, with 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistani nationals.

Families of the detained seafarers protested in Karachi on Wednesday, urging authorities to bring their relatives home.

They gathered at the Karachi Port Trust Native Jetty Bridge, holding placards and standing under the sun, while children of the seafarers joined them in demanding action.

Relatives of the abducted crew say the situation onboard has worsened significantly since the seizure.

Ambreen Fatima, whose husband is among the crew and serves as second engineer on the ship, said her family has been deeply affected since the hijacking.

She said her daughter was hospitalised for two days due to stress and her 16-year-old son, who is currently appearing for annual exams, is unable to focus.

She quoted him as saying he feels like his “brain is not functioning” because he is constantly worried about his father.

She also said the last video call allowed by the captors was six days ago, and her husband did not look well during the call.

Families said the situation onboard has become worse. They added that crew members told them during brief calls that they were surviving on boiled rice once a day and drinking untreated tank water due to a lack of clean supplies.

Mehwish Yasir, another family member, said she has spoken to her husband, Yasir Khan, an oiler on the vessel, only twice since he left in January.

She said her younger son does not understand what has happened and still believes his father will return soon. She said the family does not know whether any concrete steps are being taken to secure their release.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the pirates have not contacted Islamabad and have shown no interest in negotiating with the government.

He said the ship owner is in talks with the pirates and is also in contact with Somali authorities, who are keeping Pakistan updated.

He added that a team from Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti visited Somalia from May 7 to May 10 and was told that the hostages were safe.

However, Somali authorities said they cannot storm the vessel because it is carrying flammable cargo.

He also said Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs is coordinating with the families and that efforts are ongoing.

Maritime security concerns have increased in the region. At least three vessels were hijacked off Puntland in April 2026, which led the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations to issue a “substantial” threat warning for the area.

The Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters remain one of the world’s most important maritime corridors, linking energy exports and global trade routes between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Reference: Reuters