Families of Pakistanis Held by Somali Pirates Express Concern Over Lack of Government Progress

Islamabad (Khabar Daily) — Families of Pakistani nationals held hostage by Somali pirates have expressed serious concerns over the lack of progress in efforts to secure their release, urging the government to appoint a dedicated focal person to handle the matter.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, the families said they have not had regular contact with the abducted individuals since April 21. They added that limited communication was only established with second officer Kashif and a few others.
The relatives stated that they are not being properly informed about government actions, emphasizing that the issue concerns multiple families and involves the lives of their loved ones.
A nephew of one of the hostages, Hassan Yousuf, said his uncle remains in captivity and criticized the lack of concrete steps by the authorities. He demanded that either a committee or commission be formed to ensure the safe return of the hostages.
The families further said that despite repeated attempts to contact officials, they have received no response or update on progress. They urged the federal government to appoint a focal person to maintain regular communication with affected families.
The hostages include Kashif Umar, Hussain Yousuf, Engineer Mahmood Ahmed, Usman Ghani (Fourth Engineer), Aqeel Khan, Muhammad Yasin, Imran Ali, Rafiullah Khan, Yasser Khan, and Ameen bin Shams.