Families of Pakistani Sailors Held by Somali Pirates Protest, Warn of Hunger Strike

KARACHI — Families of 10 Pakistani sailors held hostage by Somali pirates for more than four months have staged protests in Karachi demanding their release, with one relative warning they would go on a hunger strike if the government fails to secure their loved ones’ freedom.

The Pakistanis are among the crew of the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Honour 25, which was seized by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland region on April 21. Their captivity has now stretched to nearly 140 days, with relatives saying they have had no contact with the sailors for around six weeks.

“Four and a half months is a long time, and we are tired now,” Ambreen Yousuf, whose husband Syed Hussain Yousuf was the ship’s second engineer, told Arab News at a protest in Karachi’s Numaish area. “That is why we have come out for this protest, and I appeal to the government to safely bring back these ten Pakistanis as soon as possible. Their families are worried.”

Police Crackdown on Protesters

Police in Karachi on Monday briefly detained seven people from a protest camp led by the families outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office on Shahrah-e-Faisal. The protesters had spent the night at the site, seeking information about efforts to secure the sailors’ release. Police said the protesters had used loudspeakers without permission and refused to disperse despite negotiations.

“We tried to negotiate with them throughout the night, but they did not listen to us,” Naseem Khan, station house officer of Tipu Sultan Police Station, told Arab News. “We have now released them with a warning that if they want to protest, they should first obtain an NOC.”

Ayesha Ameen, whose husband Ameen bin Shams is among the captive sailors and who was among those detained, rejected suggestions that the protesters had caused disruption. “We did not disturb anyone. We were peaceful, but the police detained us,” she told Arab News after her release.

A separate report indicated that 11 protesters, comprising six men and five women, were detained and later released.

Deteriorating Conditions and Diplomatic Efforts

The sailors have released multiple distress videos over the course of their captivity, appealing to the Pakistani government to secure their release and reporting shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. In one video, the ship’s second officer, Syed Kashif Umar, said the hostages had little food, several had fallen ill, and the vessel’s owners were unwilling to negotiate with the pirates.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in London last month and sought “urgent and effective institutional intervention” for the sailors’ early return. Dar also chaired a high-level meeting on the case and directed officials to intensify diplomatic engagement with Somali authorities and international partners.

The Foreign Office has stated that the ship owner and Somali authorities are in contact with the pirates, while Pakistan has asked them to ensure food, drinking water, and other necessities reach the crew. Officials have also said a law enforcement operation to free the sailors would be difficult because the tanker is carrying potentially dangerous cargo.

Families at the protest said they had received little information about progress on those efforts. “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 warned that the families 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.

Critical Note

The protracted captivity of the Pakistani sailors highlights the human cost of the resurgence of piracy off Somalia’s coast, which has seen more than 90 seafarers held hostage across multiple vessels. The families’ desperation—manifested in protests, hunger strike threats, and appeals to the international community—reflects the failure of diplomatic efforts to secure the release of their loved ones.

Pakistan’s government has pursued diplomatic channels, including seeking IMO intervention, but more than four months have passed with no tangible progress. The complexity of the situation, including the involvement of multiple nationalities, the dangerous cargo on board the vessel, and the fragmentation of the piracy networks, has complicated efforts to secure a resolution.

The international community must intensify its efforts to address the root causes of piracy, including the lack of effective maritime governance and the economic desperation that drives young men to engage in piracy. The families of the Pakistani sailors deserve answers and action, not just reassurances. A coordinated international response, including diplomatic pressure and targeted support for Somali maritime security, is urgently needed.