The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday expressed alarm at the continued captivity of Pakistanis aboard an oil tanker seized by Somali pirates, demanding urgent action by the government and the relevant authorities.<\/p>\n
The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged product tanker, was seized <\/a>on April 21, approximately 30 nautical miles off Somalia\u2019s Puntland region with 17 crew members aboard, 10 of them Pakistani.<\/p>\n In a post on X, the HRCP said that it was \u201cdeeply alarmed by the continued captivity of the Pakistan crew members aboard the MT Honour 25 by Somali pirates and demands urgent action by the Pakistan government and all relevant international authorities\u201d.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The commission also expressed concern at reports over the living conditions of the hostages.<\/p>\n \u201cReports that hostages are surviving on contaminated water and minimal food while their families endure severe psychological distress are unacceptable,\u201d HRCP said.<\/p>\n The human rights body stated that it stood in solidarity with \u201cthe families in Karachi protesting for the safe return of their loved ones,\u201d referring to a protest <\/a>held near Karachi\u2019s Native Jetty Bridge a day earlier.<\/p>\n It demanded that the seafarers\u2019 \u201cprotection, dignity and safety\u201d must be treated as an \u201curgent national priority\u201d.<\/p>\n On April 30, the Foreign Office had said that Pakistan was in contact with the Somali government over the hostage crisis involving Pakistani sailors.<\/p>\n