New Delhi, June 17
Even as the Pakistan navy is claiming credit for escorting 22 merchant sailors, including six Indians, onboard the MV Suez, five of Pakistan’s own merchant sailors have been languishing in Mumbai for months, awaiting a return back home. The Indian Navy got freed these sailors - Aurangzeb Nabi Bakhsh Balloch, his younger brother Sajjad Ali Balloch, Lal Bakhsh Murid Khan, Farhad Aalam Khan and Mohammed Umair - from the clutches of pirates on March 12.

They were employed on fishing trawler, Al-Murtuza. This was hijacked in December 2010 by Somali pirates and the crew members were imprisoned onboard. On March 12, the Indian Navy rescued the ship from the pirates whom they nabbed 290 nautical miles from Lakshadweep on the eastern sea board of India.

Pakistan is yet to provide documents for their repatriation as the case was now being processed through diplomatic channels. Sources said the five would be provided consular access in the last week of June in Pakistan High Commission at Delhi. Meanwhile, the ship MV Suez is currently on its way to Salalah, the capital of the Omani province of Dhofar, and is expected to berth at the port there sometime early tomorrow.

Indian officials, however, said, “The men are likely to fly out of Oman to the respective countries by Monday and will surely not be taken to any other country.” The Indian Embassy would check their papers and origin at Oman and put them on to flights back home, they added.

Sources said the Indian Merchant sailors were safe as warships of European nations - also in close vicinity - have spoken to the Captain of MV Suez, Sayyed Wasi, a Pakistani national, and confirmed safety of all of them.

Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney, who played a key role in negotiations with the pirates to free hostages, said, “From Muscat, the crew members will be sent back to their countries by air. We expect all of them to be back home by Monday.” “We will ensure that they reach home safe and sound,” he added. (With inputs from PTI)