Sindh Governor meets families: Govt vows safe release of citizens taken hostage by pirates

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nihal Hashmi Monday assured that government was making all possible efforts to secure the safe and early release of Pakistani nationals taken hostage by pirates off the coast of Somalia, while meeting their families at the Governor House.

Speaking at a press conference alongside relatives of the hostages, the Governor said he had held telephone conversations with the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs and the Foreign Secretary to push for urgent action.

“The federal government stands with the affected families in this difficult time and will not leave them alone,” Hashmi said, adding that authorities were actively pursuing the matter at multiple levels.

He said Pakistan’s foreign office had informed him that the country’s embassy concerned was making full efforts to get the hostages released at the earliest possible. Discussions were also under way with the European Union to support recovery efforts, he added.

According to Hashmi, the vessel involved is a Somali-flagged ship, and its captain remains in contact with the families of those held. The incident occurred outside Pakistan’s territorial waters, creating additional legal and operational complexities.

Families of the hostages, who attended the press conference, expressed gratitude for the Governor’s intervention and said his assurances had given them hope for the safe return of their loved ones.

“We believe our voices are being heard and that there will be positive progress,” one family member said, adding that they were praying for the safe recovery of their relatives.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026