Islamabad/Karachi, June 20
The MV Suez's 22-member crew, including six Indians, who were freed by the Somali pirates after the payment of ransom, are expected to reach Karachi in a naval vessel by Wednesday or Thursday, a Pakistan Navy official said today.

"The crew members have been transferred to the PNS Babar and they are expected to reach Pakistan either late on June 22 or early on June 23," said the navy official, who did not want to be named.

The crew, including the Indians, four Pakistanis, 11 Egyptians and a Sri Lankan, was taken on board the Pakistani warship yesterday after the MV Suez ran out of fuel and started sinking. The crew will be transferred from PNS Babar to another warship, PNS Zulfiqar, for the voyage to Pakistan.

This is being done as PNS Babar is currently deployed for a counter-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden and cannot sail to Pakistan.

The Pakistan Navy launched the Operation Umeed-e-Nuh (New Hope) to rescue the crew after MV Suez captain Wasi Hasan requested the evacuation of his crew to save their lives. — PTI