This Is Pakistan.

[Endymion]

KARACHI:

Somali pirates on Monday released four Pakistanis and 18 others they were holding hostage following negotiations lasting months.

The 22 captives have been released after the pirates were paid $2.1 million in ransom, which was collected in collaboration by the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust (ABWT), the Sindh government and the shipping company that owned the hijacked ship.

“Ransom money was dropped from an aeroplane at Punt Land in Somalia, which the pirates’ sources had specified.

The pirates started freeing hostages at 5pm GMT (10pm PST),” ABWT chairperson Ansar Burney said.

According to reports, the operation was monitored from the Suez Canal and a chartered plane was sent to Somalia to bring the released hostages back.

Apart from four Pakistanis, captives include six Indians, one Sri Lankan and 11 Egyptians. “As soon as all hostages are released, they will be shifted to the port so that they can be taken to the nearest airport for their return to their home countries,” Burney said.

During the mission, Burney travelled twice to Somalia, four times to Egypt and once each to India, Yemen and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, a brief ceremony was held at the Governor House in Karachi where families of the released hostages were also present.

“The ordeal had become a national issue for Pakistan. I congratulate the nation on this occasion,” said Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan.

In his address, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain thanked all philanthropists who helped raise the ransom amount. He also thanked President Zardari and ISI Chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha for the special services they rendered for the mission.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2011.






The people of Pakistan did not only collect money to release the Pakistani's but for the Indians as well.At this crucial moment,humanity,love and to rescue the human lives at any cost was the only thing people of Pakistan had in their minds.
I wish people stop projecting the dark side of Pakistan and start looking at the brighter side of the picture.

[tigerkhan]

great work.
one thing i want to add, the image of Pakistani ppl that they are cruel, suicide attackers, extremist and etc etc............... if u see the reason behind this, u feel they are not much bad.
eg if u say of bomb blast, i say its a American gift bcz when there was no America in Pakistan, there was peace and no blasts etc...
suicide attacker....u think if ur whole family is killed by drone attack and u know ur police, army do nothing to save u and ur innocent family...rather they was involved in it....what will be other option than a suicide attack. (PS i am not saying its right to do suicide attacks but if u want to end this practice, u need to remove root cause, the drone attacks on innocent ppl )
u had see some videos like recent one, army killing a boy or FC killing 5 foreigner including women, or sailkot accident...it seems Pakistani are much much cruel...but dont forgot this happen when u got too frustrated with SYSTEM. when there is no justice, discrimination, bribe, and much more curse like this...then such response are not much unexpected....although they are not good. And our SYSTEM, i am 100000% sure American, and western countries never want that good governing system established in Muslims countries (esp one with atomic bomb and world best army)
so my personal assessment is paki ppl are cool and good. there are good and bad in every nations but what image nowadays media is giving about paki ppl is not correct. most of paki are good yet few black sheeps... i hope u agree ?

[waji]

Yes that is Good news but one more person to be praised is ISI chief General Shuja Pasha who was involved in these efforts

but on the other hand what about those five Pakistani sailors who are in Indian custody Right . Those five sailors were on the ship which was rescued by Indian Navy and why not till now Pakistani authorities have spoken about them.

[Endymion]

Welcome home

Thursday, June 16, 2011

In a happy ending to a ten-month-long crisis, four Pakistanis held captive by Somali pirates have been released and will return home in the next few days. The Pakistanis were among 22 crew members of MV Suez, an Egyptian cargo vessel hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on August 2, 2010. The ship has been released now after the payment of US$2.1 million in ransom, around US$110,000 of it raised by Pakistanis through the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust (ABWT), the Sindh government, and the shipping company that owned the hijacked ship. It is worth noting that Indian parliamentarian KD Sindh backed out of paying India’s share. The families of the Indian sailors had raised the issue with the prime minister and urged the Indian government to help, but got nothing but empty assurances. The families of the Indian hostages have profusely thanked Burney and even the Pakistan government for their efforts to get the hostages released.

While the families of the hostages can finally breathe a sigh of relief, it is important to remember that the danger posed by pirates is a growing one. Pirates continue to haunt the seas in, and increasingly beyond, the Gulf of Aden and stopping them is very difficult given the immense stretches of open water in which they operate and the inadequate resources available to resist them. A pirate recently told USA Today that killing hostages “has now become part of our rules.” It is thus very important for the international community to pool its resources and deal with piracy on a priority basis. Firstly, international diplomatic steps are required to support a functioning Somali state, the only durable solution to youthful lawlessness. Secondly, tougher retribution needs to be exercised for captured pirates who are too swiftly released and rarely punished. Thirdly, ships need more armed guards or even ‘citadels,’ as some experts have suggested – secure areas to which crews can flee to safely await help. Lastly, perhaps governments and shipping companies need to invest in guarded convoys for both commercial and recreational vessels. At this point, most nations prefer to ransom their citizens, which is why piracy has become such a lucrative activity. Long-terms measures, and not ransom payments, are needed to nip the problem in the bud.


Released sailors thwart pirates’ second kidnapping bid

Rabia Ali
Thursday, June 16, 2011

Karachi

The Pakistan Navy has taken the responsibility of guarding the MV Suez vessel carrying released Pakistanis after its crew members wrestled back an attempt by the Somali pirates to take them hostage again on Wednesday, barely two days after they were released.

The 22-member crew comprising four Pakistanis — Captain Wasi Hasan, Syed Alam, Ali Rehman, and Mohammad Muzammil — was released on Monday after ten-month-long agonizing captivity, only after the pirates were paid 2.1 million dollars in ransom.

“On Wednesday morning, when the ship started to sail from Somalia, the pirates, armed with Kalashnikovs, attacked the vessel in a bid to take the crew hostage again,” social activist Ansar Burney, who have been actively pursuing the case, told The News.

The sailors fought back bravely and managed to push back the pirates.

“The pirates attacked the ship to kidnap the 22 member crew, including four Pakistanis, again. Two Somali pirates reached the deck of the ship, but the sailors opened the water pipe, and the pressure of the water kept the pirates back.”

One of the pirates fell in the water, but was later fished out by his people.

“Following the incident, we requested the Pakistan Navy to help the released men and they immediately offered assistance,” Burney added.

A ship of the Pakistan Navy, PNS Babar-V, has been dispatched to escort MV Suez to the nearest port safe and sound.

However, it is unclear as to whether all the crew members would be brought to Pakistan or would be deported to their respective countries. The freed hostages are expected to return in two days.

“We are grateful to the Pakistan Navy that it is guarding the ship as the pirates are planning to take back the crew as hostages. We are all praying that the sailors come back home safe. Thank God, they fought back and saved themselves from becoming hostage again,” said Burney.

The crew of the M V Suez was captured last August when it was nearing the Eritrean Coast. Out of the total ransom money, 0.11 million dollars were collected by the Pakistanis. The ransom money for the Indian hostages was also paid by Pakistanis after an Indian parliamentarian, KD Singh, backed off from his promise for contribution.

The 22-member crew works for an Egyptian Company Red Sea Navigation and comprises 11 Egyptians, six Indians, four Pakistanis and one Sri Lankan.

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[Endymion]

Families of Indian sailors thank Ansar Burney, unhappy with Indian Govt


http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/fa...an-govt-112289

[Endymion]

Alhamdulillah,back home :statisfie



MV Suez crew reaches Karachi




http://www.pakistannews24.com/2011/0...i-amid-cheers/

[Endymion]

Home At Last.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/194772/s...karachi-today/

Layla,the little daughter of Captain Wasi,when meet her father after 10 months.Made everyone cry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxK1WlQ18W0

[Haya emaan]

Alhamdulilah!!..

[Tilmeez]

Alhamdolillah thuma alhamdolillah.

Layla made me cry every time.