PM announces help, homes for relatives of Pakistani captives murdered in Somalia rescue

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has promised financial aid of Rs12.5 million each to the families of three Pakistanis murdered in a Somali operation to free captives held by pirates.

The prime minister also pledged free education and health treatment for the children of the departed Pakistanis and a house for each bereaved family.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has telephoned Azhan Kashif, son of Pakistani national Syed Kashif Umar, who was killed in Somalia and conveyed his heart-felt grief over his father’s death.

The prime minister expressed sympathy with the lost families and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant the departed high ranks in paradise and give the grieving families strength to endure the loss.

The families of the three Pakistanis murdered during the recovery operation in Somalia — Syed Kashif Umar, Mahmood Ahmed Ansari and Rafiullah Khan — will get Rs12.5 million each in government financial support, said Shehbaz Sharif.

Besides, the government will also provide free education and health services to the children of the deceased and a dwelling to each family, he announced.

The prime minister said the government will do all it could to help and support the bereaved families at this terrible time.

He urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and concerned institutions to expedite efforts for repatriation of the bodies of deceased Pakistanis to the country at the earliest while remaining in constant contact with the Somali authorities and other parties.

The prime minister also urged the authorities to provide best possible medical treatment to the Pakistanis injured in Somalia and continue all feasible efforts for safe repatriation of other Pakistani crew members.

Recall that during an operation by Somali troops to rescue the crew of the vessel Honor 25, who were purportedly held hostage for five months, five persons were killed. Three Pakistanis were among those slain.