October 13, 2003	Monday	Sha'aban 16, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Holding the essential crew members of Tasman Spirit is a legitimate right of Pakistan, said a statement issued by the communication ministry here on Sunday.

“Arrest of seafarers is not a unique phenomenon and seafarers of all countries, including PNSC, are arrested in case of default,” the ministry statement said, denying the blame of unnecessary detention of the crew of the ship.

“A false perception is being created in the press by certain interested sources that Pakistan has unnecessarily detained the crew members of Tasman Spirit and a Salvage Master,” said the statement.

“The factual position is that holding the Master, the Salver, the owner’s representative and a few members of the crew, is the legitimate right of Pakistan,” it added.

The ministry clarified that Pakistan “has gone a yard extra in releasing many members of the crew representatives of the owner and the Salver purely on humanitarian grounds”.

The Greek ambassador called on the secretary communications with the request that they may be released. The ministry immediately took up the case with the interior division and arranged for removal of their names from the Exit Control List and within 48 hours these persons were allowed to leave the country.

The ministry said out of the list given by the Greek ambassador only one had been held back. “This gesture was purely on humanitarian grounds and for earning the goodwill of the concerned country,” the statement said.—APP