At least 22 hostages, including six Indians and four Pakistanis have been released by Somali pirates after receiving a pay-off of 2.1 million dollars as ransom.
Besides Captain Syed Wasi Hasan, Muzzamil, Mohammed Alam and Ali Rehman of Pakistan, six Indians, 11 Egyptians and a Sri Lankan citizen have been freed, a Sindh Governor's House spokesperson and an NGO official said in a statement.
According to the Dawn, President Asif Ali Zardari called relatives of the freed Pakistanis, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, human rights activist Ansar Burney and Citizen-Police Liaison Committee's (CPLC) Ahmad Chinoy and said that he would stand by every Pakistani in his hour of need.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement's founder Altaf Hussain said that by securing the release of Indian hostages along with Pakistani citizens, organizations have proved that the country believes in human values and does not pursue a policy of hatred.
Describing the release of Indian hostages as a gesture of goodwill from Pakistan, he called on the Indian leadership to adopt the path of friendship, instead of acrimony.
He said when Indian philanthropists backed out at the last moment, the governor mobilized resources for the release of all hostages and proved that ‘we believe in humanity’.
The MQM chief appealed to the Indian prime minister to release the handicapped Karachi University Professor Chishti, who is languishing in a prison in India.