Accepting Somali pirates’ $3m ransom demand could have serious consequences: minister

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday said the government is using all available channels to secure the safe and early release of 10 Pakistani nationals held hostage by Somali pirates.

Responding to a Calling Attention Notice in the National Assembly, the minister said three rounds of talks had been held with the pirates but had so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

The pirates have demanded $3 million for the release of the hostages, he said, adding that the government had decided against accepting the ransom demand.

Chaudhry said paying the ransom could encourage further hijackings and hostage-taking in the region, where oil tankers and other commercial vessels frequently pass.

He said the Foreign Office was pursuing the matter through diplomatic channels, while Pakistani missions and other relevant authorities were working to facilitate negotiations.

A major difficulty, according to the minister, was uncertainty over the ownership of the vessel carrying the Pakistanis. He said the ownership address provided in Dubai had proved incorrect when checked by the Pakistani Consulate, making it difficult to establish direct contact with the vessel’s actual owners.

The minister said Somalia’s federal government also did not exercise effective control over the part of Puntland where the vessel and hostages were being held.