Bodies of 3 Pakistanis killed on hijacked ship in Somalia reach Ethopia

The bodies of three Pakistani crew members killed during an operation to recover a hijacked oil tanker off the coast of Somalia have reached Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa as arrangements for their repatriation to Pakistan are underway.

The bodies of Syed Kashif Umar, Ahmed Ansari and Rafiullah arrived in Addis Ababa about an hour ago, Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

It said that Ethiopian Airlines staff are reviewing the necessary arrangements for transporting the bodies to Pakistan, adding that final clearance will then be given for their onward travel on a flight to Karachi.

The relevant authorities remain in coordination to complete the repatriation process as soon as possible, in line with the prime minister’s directives, said the statement.

Tweet by Prime Minister's Office

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured the families of the three deceased Pakistanis of all possible assistance in bringing their bodies back to the country.

On Thursday, the prime minister also spoke by telephone with Azhan Kashif, the son of Syed Kashif Umar, and expressed condolences over his father’s death.

He assured him that the government would take all necessary measures to bring his father’s remains, along with those of the other two Pakistanis, back to Pakistan at the earliest.