Relief for families as Houthis release Pakistani crew of LPG tanker

ISLAMABAD: Yemen’s Houthi group has released a foreign LPG tanker and its crew, including 24 Pakistanis, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday.

In a post on X, Naqvi shared that the tanker, carrying 27 crew members (24 Pakistanis, including Captain Mukhtar Akbar, two Sri Lankans, and one Nepali), came under attack by an Israeli drone on September 17 while docked at Ras al-Esa port, an area controlled by the Houthis. One of its gas tanks exploded, but the crew managed to put out the fire. Soon after, Houthi boats stopped the vessel and held the crew hostage on board.

Naqvi expressed deep gratitude to Pakistani officials and security agencies who worked tirelessly under tough circumstances to secure the release of the sailors. “Alhamdulillah, the tanker and its crew are now free and out of Yemeni waters. Pakistan Hamesha Zindabad,” he wrote.

The Foreign Office also confirmed the safe release, saying the ship has left Yemeni waters and all crew members, including the Pakistanis, are safe. It added that Pakistani embassies in the region had been in constant contact with Yemeni authorities and the families of the sailors to ensure their well-being and keep them updated throughout the ordeal.

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