Four injured Pakistani crew members and the mortal remains of three sailors have left Addis Ababa for Karachi. The Foreign Office said the sailors departed Ethiopia aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 694 on Sunday.
The development follows a Somali operation that freed the hijacked MT Honour 25 from pirates.
Four Injured Sailors Leave Addis Ababa
The injured crew members include Usman Ghani, Aqeel Khan, Ameen bin Shams and Yasir Khan. They travelled alongside the mortal remains of Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmad Ansari.
Pakistan’s ambassadors to Djibouti and Ethiopia saw the group off at Addis Ababa. The flight is expected to arrive in Karachi on Sunday.
The injured sailors had received medical treatment after reaching safety on shore. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Djibouti coordinated with Somali authorities and other stakeholders.
The mission also worked to assist Pakistani nationals and facilitate their return home.
What Happened to MT Honour 25?
Somali authorities launched an operation to recover the Palau-flagged tanker after pirates seized it. Puntland authorities said their forces freed the vessel and captured 16 pirates during the operation.
However, the recovery operation resulted in the deaths of five crew members. Three of those killed were Pakistani nationals, while four other crew members suffered injuries.
The tanker had been seized on April 21, around 30 nautical miles from Somalia’s Puntland coast. There were 17 crew members aboard the vessel, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
Three Pakistani Sailors Still Await Return
Despite the rescue, several Pakistani crew members remained aboard MT Honour 25. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on October 2 that three Pakistanis remained aboard.
They were identified as Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain. The vessel’s captain also remained aboard at the time.
Efforts were continuing to facilitate their safe return to Pakistan.
Mortal Remains Reach Ethiopia
The remains of the three deceased Pakistani sailors had reached Addis Ababa before their onward journey. Ethiopian Airlines staff completed the necessary arrangements for transporting the remains to Karachi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed relevant authorities to complete the repatriation process at the earliest.
He also assured the bereaved families of government assistance following the deaths. The prime minister spoke by telephone with Azhan Kashif, the son of deceased sailor Syed Kashif Umar.
He expressed condolences over the death of his father during the conversation.
Financial Assistance Announced for Families
The government has also announced financial assistance for the families of the three deceased Pakistani sailors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz announced Rs12.5 million for each bereaved family. He also announced free education and healthcare for their children.
Additionally, each family will receive a house under the announced assistance package. The prime minister directed authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured sailors.
He also ordered officials to continue efforts for the safe return of the remaining Pakistani crew members.
As the injured sailors and mortal remains make their way to Karachi, efforts remain focused on bringing the remaining Pakistani crew members home safely.
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