Ansar Burney Trust International was also instrumental in the release of 22 seamen, including four Pakistanis, on the payment of $2.1 million ransom in July. – File Photo

KARACHI: Two Pakistanis who had been held hostage with 21 other crewmen of a foreign-flagged ship by Somali pirates for over one and a half years were rescued through the ‘UAE government assistance’, it emerged on Tuesday.

In need of immediate health care, they are being moved to Salalah port in Oman from where they will be brought home.

With 24 sailors on board, including two Pakistanis and six Indians, Panama-flagged Merchant Vessel Iceberg-I was seized on March 29 last year by Somali pirates who demanded $8 million for their release.

“Their families approached us and we launched our efforts that led to coordination among the institutions and countries concerned,” said Ansar Burney of the Ansar Burney Trust International, which was also instrumental in the release of 22 seamen, including four Pakistanis, on the payment of $2.1 million ransom in July.

However, he said, no ransom was paid for the latest ‘achievement’.

“The captives were released in an action that was supported by the UAE government and I have expressed my gratitude to every individual and organisation concerned for making efforts for their release,” he added.

Unfortunately, he said, the Egyptian chief engineer of the ship committed suicide after losing all hopes. The seized ship was anchored in Putland port of Somalia. “It took us months to resolve the issue that involved no assistance from the Pakistan government,” he added.

Only two weeks ago, a Pakistani fishing trawler that had been taken over by a group of Somali pirates was rescued by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) near the coast of Somalia.

While reports about repeated detentions of Pakistani crew of different ships by Somali pirates have been a cause for worry for relatives of the hostages, the release of the fishing trawler and the Iceberg-I crew has lent some hope to one such distressed family from Mansehra.

Neelum Mujtaba with her three daughters and an infant son has been seeking release of her husband, Mohammad Mujtaba, who with six other Pakistani sailors of a foreign ship was taken hostage in November 2010. The Somali pirates have demanded $8 million for their release.

Stepping up her struggle, the woman finally reached Karachi from her hometown last month and met senior officials along with family members of other detained Pakistani crewmen.

However, what the families have won so far are promises from the officials about safe return of their loved ones.

Mr Burney agreed that the lives of several Pakistani seamen were under threat and said coordinated international efforts were needed to develop a mechanism to fight piracy.

“I have recently interacted with the CMF and senior Nato officials. We have made it clear that payment of ransom for the release of captives should be avoided, as it will encourage piracy and offer a platform to many to exploit the situation,” he added.

Asked about the efforts for the release of six Pakistani crewmen who had been held hostage by Somali pirates since November 2010, Mr Burney said work on that particular case had already been initiated.

But it was too sensitive an issue to share details of which with the media, he said.

“Rest assured,” he said, “we are very much hopeful to reach some positive end in this case also”.