Pak yet to claim 4 nationals rescued from hijacked boat

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: Four Pakistani nationals, who were part of the 16 crew members of hijacked Mozambican fishing boat Vega 5, are still languishing in the Mumbai docks area. While the other 54 hostages belonging to various countries have been taken home by their respective governments, the Pakistani embassy is still in the process of verifying if the hijacked crew members are actually its nationals.

Vega 5 was hijacked last year with 24 crew members on board. The hijackers, all Somali pirates, have been arrested and are kept in Mumbai jails. A total of 106 pirates in various raids by the Indian Navy have been arrested and brought to the city. Security forces rescued 70 hostages, mostly crew members belonging to various countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Myanmar and Pakistan.

“While most of the countries have claimed their citizens and taken them, the 12 Iranian hostages, currently kept in the Mumbai docks area, will be flying to their country on Friday. However, the Pakistani embassy has not given any answer about four of its nationals,” said a source. The police had given an opportunity to the Pakistani hostages to speak to their families in Pakistan.

“The four hostages spoke to their families on phone and heaved a sigh of relief after talking to them. They have given their addresses too. However, the Pakistani embassy is still verifying if they are actually Pakistani nationals and have not claimed their responsibility yet,” added the source. The Pakistani nationals did not have any document with them since the hijacked fishing boat had sunk into the sea.

The four Pakistani nationals are Lal Bakhsh Murid Khan (20), Sajjad Bakhsh (20), Farid Aalam Khan (24) and Aurangzeb Kakhsh (24). Khan and Farid belong to the Mirpur district of Karachi while Sajjad and Aurangzeb hail from Karachi itself.

“The foreigners’ registration office had informed the local police some time ago that the state government would sanction Rs 3 lakh for the hostages’ food expenses. However, the money has not reached to the police yet,” the source said.

The Iranian consulate is sending food for its nationals and the Pakistani nationals too get their food from the Iranians.

Armed policemen have been deployed for security until the hostages are deported to their countries.

The Times of India, April 14, 2011