Pakistan to seek UN help in hijacked crewmen release
August 27th, 2010 - 10:15 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, Aug 27 (IANS) Pakistan Friday said it may seek the help of the UN for safe release of the Pakistani crew on board a hijacked Panama-flagged cargo vessel.
Somali pirates hijacked the MV Suez ship off the Gulf of Aden early this month with 23 crew members from Egypt, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.
The ministry of foreign affairs is exploring avenues for seeking UN assistance for the release of Pakistani nationals, an official spokesman was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
“The ministry is in contact with the government of Egypt as well as Somali authorities to seek the safe and early release of Pakistani crewmen on the Panamanian flag vessel ‘MV Suez’ owned by an Egyptian company,” the spokesman said.
The 17,300-tonne ship carrying cement bags came under small arms fire while sailing in a recommended shipping lane.
The ship was on a voyage from Karachi to Massawa port in Eritrea, on the east African coast.
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- Somali pirates seize ship with 12 crew - Sep 25, 2010
- Freed merchant vessel crew safely proceeding to Oman: Government - Jun 15, 2011
- Indian Navy abandons escort of freed vessel (Lead) - Jun 16, 2011
- Ship unresponsive, Indian Navy calls off escort (Second Lead) - Jun 16, 2011
- Ship with 20 Indian crew members hijacked, freed - Jan 10, 2012
- Panama-flagged merchant vessel carrying cement bags hijacked in the Gulf of Aden - Aug 02, 2010
- Fresh pirate attack on freed vessel, India rushes warship (Second Lead) - Jun 15, 2011
- India denies obstructing Pakistani warship (Third Lead) - Jun 18, 2011
- Back channel efforts on for Indian sailors' release (Second Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- Somali pirates hijack Thai cargo ship carrying 27 crew members - Dec 25, 2010
- Somali pirates release Panama-flagged MV VOC Daisy - Oct 19, 2010
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