Pakistani crew held hostage after oil tanker hijacked near Somalia

More than 10 Pakistani crew members have been taken hostage after an oil tanker was hijacked by Somali pirates near the coast of Somalia, raising serious concerns among their families who are now urging the government for immediate assistance.

According to reports, the vessel named Honour 25 was en route from Oman to Fujairah when it was intercepted and seized by pirates. Since the hijacking, communication with the crew has been completely lost, leaving families in distress and uncertainty.

Relatives of the kidnapped crew members, some of whom belong to Karachi, expressed deep concern while speaking to media. They said no meaningful support has yet been provided by the authorities, although the Governor of Sindh has contacted them and assured cooperation.

Somali pirates seize oil tanker near Somalia coast, 11 Pakistani crew on board

Family members shared heartbreaking details about the hostages. One of the crew members, Amin Shams, is the father of two young children a three-year-old daughter and a four-month-old son. Another hostage, Syed Kashif, has four children, while Imran has two daughters. Hussain, another crew member, is the father of three children, including a nine-year-old son who is anxiously waiting for his father’s return.

The families have appealed to the Pakistani government to take urgent diplomatic and security measures to ensure the safe release of the hostages. They emphasized that time is critical and that immediate intervention is needed.

Maritime security experts say piracy incidents near Somalia have declined in recent years but still pose a serious threat to commercial shipping routes in the region. Authorities are expected to coordinate with international agencies to address the situation.