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Families of Pakistani Hostages Protest in Karachi as Ransom Talks with Somali Pirates Continue
Relatives of crew members aboard MT Honour 25 demanded stronger diplomatic action after two months in captivity. The protest followed a new video showing the hostages' conditions.
Jun 20, 10:18 AM·1m read5 sources
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Families of 10 Pakistani crew members held by Somali pirates protested outside the Karachi Press Club on June 19, 2026, calling for intensified government efforts to secure their release. The demonstration was organised by Jamaat-e-Islami. Relatives said the 10 Pakistanis had been held for two months since the April 21 hijacking of the vessel MT Honour 25 near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region.
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Acting JI Karachi Emir Saifuddin Advocate addressed the crowd and urged the government to show seriousness and intensify diplomatic efforts. He noted that JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had also demanded the immediate release of the abducted Pakistanis.
A resolution passed at the protest called on the government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant institutions to increase contacts with the Somali government, international organisations and other concerned parties.
The resolution further demanded the formation of a special task force for the hostages’ release and regular updates to the affected families. The protest followed the emergence earlier in the week of a new video of the Pakistani crew members aboard MT Honour 25.
In the video, ship’s second officer Syed Kashif Umar stated that the 10 Pakistanis had been held for 57 days, had little food, and that some had fallen ill.
He said the vessel’s owners were unwilling to negotiate with the pirates. The Indonesian captain of MT Honour 25 also appealed to his government for assistance in securing the crew’s release. The Foreign Office stated last week that the government remained committed to securing the release of Pakistani citizens held by Somali pirates for nearly two months.
Diplomatic sources said the vessel remains anchored off the Somali coast while negotiations continue. According to the sources, the Somali government is communicating with the pirates through the owner of Honour 25. The pirates initially demanded a ransom of $10 million but later reduced the demand to $4 million, though negotiations have yet to produce a breakthrough.
