Sailors got freed as gesture of goodwill: Governor

KARACHI: All efforts to get free the kidnapped sailors from Somali pirates were made as a gesture of goodwill to our neighbours, said Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan.

The Governor was talking to media persons on Thursday as he welcomed the 22 merchant navy sailors of MV Suez at Karachi Dockyard.

"We are offering gesture of goodwill and love to our neighbours including Indians and the regional partners with an aim to create harmony on humanitarian grounds,"

"But we also expect love from our neighbours," he said at the Dockyard to receive the freed sailors kidnapped about 10 months back by Somali pirates.

The Governor especially arrived along with all team members including Vice Admiral Abbas Raza, Commander Pakistan Naval Fleet and the NGO chief Ansar Burney to receive the freed 22 sailors including four Pakistanis, and Indians, Egyptian and Sri Lankan nationals.

"It is a very proud day for us that the sailors are here at our Karachi port safely after over 10-months of captivity and it was not possible without the help of our government and philanthropists," the Governor added.

"It is our gesture of love for all of our neighbours especially the Indians and we offer all help to them without any reciprocal steps," he further maintained.

"Moreover, I may tell you that the release of the kidnapped people was not possible without the team work of the civilian and other forces," he said.

The Governor praised the Pakistan Navy for provision of protection to the freed sailors and said that all the institutions played their role in this connection.

The media persons were further informed on the occasion that all the other sailors will be facilitated to return to their respective destinations without any further delay.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011