HRCP urges urgent action over Pakistani crew held on tanker seized by Somali pirates

ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday voiced serious concern over the continued captivity of پاکستانی crew members aboard the MT Honour 25, an oil tanker seized by Somali pirates, and called for immediate steps by the government and relevant authorities.

In a post on X, the commission said it was deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of Pakistani seafarers on the vessel and urged the Pakistan government as well as international authorities to act without delay.

The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged product tanker, was hijacked on April 21 about 30 nautical miles off Somalia’s Puntland region. There were 17 crew members on board at the time, including 10 Pakistanis.

HRCP also highlighted concerns about the condition of the hostages, referring to reports about the circumstances in which they are being held. “Reports that hostages are surviving on contaminated water and minimal food while their families endure severe psychological distress are unacceptable,” it said.

The commission said it stood with the families in Karachi who have been protesting for the safe return of their relatives. The reference was to a demonstration held near Karachi’s Native Jetty Bridge a day earlier, where families sought the recovery of their loved ones.

HRCP said the seafarers’ protection, dignity and safety should be treated as an urgent national priority.

Foreign Office response

Earlier, on April 30, the Foreign Office said Pakistan was in contact with the Somali government regarding the hostage situation involving Pakistani sailors.

Speaking at a press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti, which is accredited to Somalia, had approached Somali authorities, including the country’s foreign office. “Our Embassy in Djibouti, which is accredited to Somalia, approached the authorities in Somalia, including their foreign office, and we learned that the vessel was anchored in the coast of EYL in the Puntland region”.

Andrabi said Puntland was a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, adding that Pakistan regarded it as part of Somalia. “We consider it as part of the brotherly nation of Somalia. MT Honor 25, we understand, is owned by a businessman who is based in Puntland. So, I think the positive side of this story or the silver lining is that the ship is where it belongs to.”

The seizure of the tanker has added to wider concerns over a possible return of pirate activity in the Indian Ocean. Attacks by Somali pirates had reached their height in 2011, when armed groups carried out raids as far as 3,655 kilometres from the Somali coast.

Recent hijackings off Somalia have again raised fears about opportunistic pirate operations in the region.