Deccan Chronicle
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
“We are happy they have been released and the ship is now moving out,” external affairs minister S.M. Krishna told reporters here.
He, however, parried a question about the role of Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney in securing the release of the 22 crew members, saying, “Let us not get into a speculative analysis on who is behind it and who is provoking it”.
Somali pirates had released the crew members after ransom was paid to them, Burney had said on Monday.
The pirates had taken the crew members, including Pakistanis, Egyptians and a Sri Lankan, hostage after capturing the vessel MV Suez in 2010.
Burney, who negotiated with the pirates and raised money through donations, said in Karachi that all hostages had been freed.
He said they would reach their homes in a few days as arrangements are being made for their repatriation.
Source: Deccan Chronicle