For 26-year-old Ayesha Ameen, the crisis is painfully personal. Her husband, Ameen bin Shams, is among 10 Pakistani crew members aboard the oil tanker MT Honour 25, which was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 21. The vessel, carrying 17 crew members of multiple nationalities, remains anchored near Puntland.
Back home in Karachi, their three-year-old daughter continues to ask when her father will return, unaware of the reality that he is being held captive. Their four-month-old son has never met him.
Ameen had only recently begun his career in the merchant navy after years of working at a Karachi shipyard. According to his wife, he had been excited about the job, often sharing videos and updates from the sea. But that routine ended abruptly when he managed a brief, emotional call after the hijacking, informing his family of the situation.
Since then, communication has been scarce. Families say pirates initially allowed short monitored calls, but contact has largely diminished. During one of the last calls, Ameen urged his family to seek help from authorities and civil society, expressing hope for rescue.
Another affected family, that of 55-year-old engineer Mehmood Ahmed Ansari, is facing similar uncertainty. His son, Muzammil, said his father sent a voice note confirming the hijacking and urging them to contact the government. With decades of maritime experience, the incident has come as an unprecedented shock to the family.
The MT Honour 25 was seized roughly 30 nautical miles off Somalia’s coast. Reports indicate that at least 11 armed pirates are now onboard. International naval forces, including units from EUNAVFOR, are monitoring the situation, but no direct intervention has taken place so far.
Conditions aboard the vessel are reportedly deteriorating. Families and rights groups say food, water, fuel, and essential medicines are running low. A circulating video showed crew members confined in cramped conditions.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has stated that it is in contact with Somali authorities and monitoring developments. Officials say there is reason to believe the crew is safe, and that communication between the ship’s owner and the pirates is ongoing. However, no ransom demand has been publicly confirmed.
Families, however, have expressed frustration over what they describe as a lack of urgency and communication from the government. At a press conference in Karachi, relatives of the hostages called for the formation of a high-level committee and regular updates.
The incident is part of a broader resurgence in Somali piracy. At least three vessels have been hijacked in the region since April 20, prompting maritime authorities to raise threat levels. Analysts say reduced anti-piracy patrols and shifting global conflicts, including tensions affecting key shipping routes, have created conditions for renewed attacks.
For families like Ayesha’s, the crisis is both geopolitical and deeply personal. With no clear timeline for resolution, each passing day brings more uncertainty, as loved ones wait for news from the high seas.
