ANSAR Burney helped facilitate the rescue of the crew members of the ship hijacked by Somali pirates. He did this with the cooperation of the Sindh government to be able to get the desired result.

What is more important is that the Pakistani government has also helped in the release of the Indian sailors; the ransom for them was also paid by Pakistan.

The efforts of Ansar Burney and government officials send the message that Pakistan is a peace-loving country.

Although Pakistan is a poor country, it still can pay such a high ransom for the people who belong to the country.

ARSLAN RAZASharjah

A big business

AFTER an ordeal of 10 months in Somali pirates’ custody, MV Suez’ staff of 22 sailors won their freedom this week.

Hostages included four Pakistanis, six Indians, 11 Egyptians and one Sri Lankan. We congratulate Ansar Burney, Sindh governor, Citizen-Police Liaison Committee for their unwavering efforts and the people of Pakistan who generously donated to collect a ransom of about $2 million.

Athough the hostages belonged to some other nationalities, none of the respective governments took any interest in resolving this human tragedy. It was Ansar Burney and his NGO staff who took the mission to arrange funds, negotiate with pirates, arranging with the shipowner to channel the ransom to pirates and, finally, he succeeded.

It appears that the world in general has accepted piracy near Somali waters and persistent lawlessness in Somalia as facts of life: there is no genuine resolve or effort to crush this menace, which is now a multi-billion dollar business.

MASOOD KHANJubailSaudi Arab