Bodies of slain Pakistani sailors head home

The bodies of three Pakistani sailors killed during an operation to recover a hijacked oil tanker off Somalia have reached Addis Ababa, with arrangements under way to bring them back to Pakistan, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday.

The deceased sailors were identified as Syed Kafeel Omar, Ahmad Ansari and Rafiullah. Their bodies were transported to the Ethiopian capital, where officials are coordinating arrangements for their onward journey to Karachi.

The Prime Minister’s Office said final clearance would be given for the bodies to be sent to Pakistan once all necessary arrangements had been completed. Officials have also been directed to remain in contact with the relevant authorities to speed up the repatriation process.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured the bereaved families that the government will provide all possible assistance. He also spoke by telephone with Izaan Kafeel, the son of Syed Kafeel Omar, and offered condolences over his father’s death.

The three Pakistanis were among the crew members of the MT Honour 25, an oil tanker that was seized by pirates off the Somali coast on April 21. The vessel was carrying 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani nationals, and had around 18,500 barrels of oil on board.

The tanker was later targeted during a rescue operation by the Puntland Maritime Police Force. According to authorities, pirates opened fire on the hostages while retreating from the vessel, killing five sailors, including three Pakistanis.

Four other crew members were injured, while several others remained safe during the operation.

The Pakistani government has announced Rs12.5 million in financial assistance for the families of each of the three deceased sailors. The families will also receive houses, while their children will be provided with free education and healthcare.

The incident has caused distress among the families of the Pakistani crew, who had spent months seeking the safe release of their relatives after the tanker was hijacked.

Authorities are now focused on completing the repatriation process so the bodies can be handed over to their families in Pakistan.