KARACHI: Families of 10 Pakistani sailors held hostage by Somali pirates have threatened to stage a hunger strike outside the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry if the government fails to secure their release.
Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, the families and their lawyers said more than 140 days had passed since the ship was hijacked, but there had been no tangible progress towards bringing their loved ones home. The family members said they had approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about four months ago and had also sent a follow-up letter, but received no timely response. They said the lack of progress had left them with no option but to protest.
One hostage’s son said he had not heard his father’s voice for about one and a half months. “Every member of our family longs to see him,” he said. Syed Talib Abbas, nephew of one of the abducted engineers, said no family wanted to take to the streets to seek the recovery of their loved ones, but circumstances had forced them to protest.
The families also alleged that they faced violence during a protest outside the Foreign Office. They said they would continue their protest until the hostages were recovered. They appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to speed up diplomatic negotiations with the Somali pirates and ensure the immediate and safe return of the Pakistani hostages.
The families also demanded a clear assurance that the state would not abandon its citizens and would use every possible means to secure their release. They appealed to Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to take a personal interest in the matter and use his influence to help secure the release of the hostages.
The families also called on the international community, including the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization and other countries, to make joint efforts for the release of the seafarers held in Somalia. They said the matter could be resolved for a few thousand dollars and urged the government and the international community to take immediate steps to bring the 10 Pakistani crew members of the Honor 25 safely back home.
They also called for measures to secure the release of all seafarers being held in Somalia. The families warned that if their demands were not met, they would expand their protest and stage a hunger strike outside the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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