Staff Report
KARACHI: PNS Zulfiqar, carrying Captain Wasi along with 22 other hostages released by Somali pirates, have arrived here around 4.20pm, SAMAA reported on Thursday.
The 22 people released by Somali pirates reached Dockyard, Karachi after six days of journey by sea.
The released hostages include four Pakistanis, 11 Egyptians, six Indians and a Sri Lankan national.
Four Pakistanis include Ship Captain Wasi Hasan, Engineer Syyed Alam, Chief Officer Ali Rehman and diesel mechanic Muzzammil.
A ceremony will be held in their honor at Governor House.
AGENCIES ADD:
Pakistan on Thursday welcomed a group of hostages held for 10 months by pirates off the coast of Somalia, after sending a navy vessel to rescue the Egyptians, Indians, Pakistanis and one Sri Lankan.
Pakistan helped Egypt to secure the release of the Egyptian-registered boat, Suez, which docked in Oman last week after the ordeal began in August 2010.
"Our navy ship PNS Zulfiqar has reached Karachi port along with the 22 crew members of the Egyptian boat," said Pakistan navy spokesman Mohammad Kamran.
"We are welcoming them warmly and will keep the foreigners as our guests," he said.
A ceremony was conducted to welcome the hostages, with relatives of the four Pakistanis in attendance, the local government said.
The other crew includes 11 Egyptians, six Indians and a Sri Lankan. SAMAA/ AGENCIES