ISLAMABAD: On President Zardari’s directives, the Chairman of Bahria Town Malik Riaz has announced that he will provide the remaining amount required to release the crew of MV Albedo.
After hearing appeals from the family members of the crew which were broadcast on Geo News, President Asif Ali Zardari had directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to take all necessary steps to secure the release of the hostages.
It has been over a year since 23 crew members on board the MV Albedo were taken hostage by Somali pirates.
The Somali pirates had initially demanded $8 million to release the captives, but after several rounds of negotiations the amount was brought down to $2.85 million.
The deadline set by the pirates was May 15, 2012.