Chase is on for ‘Pirates of the Arabian’

Over 100 fishermen have been robbed by pirates off the coasts of Karachi and Thatta in the last three months, compelling the Maritime Security Agency and the Pakistan Coast Guards to gear up their efforts to track them down.

The MSA has enhanced patrolling at sea and the PCG has started gathering intelligence to nab the pirates, The News learnt on Tuesday.

The fishermen complained that apart from their catch, their cash, cell phones and belongings were snatched by pirates at sea. “A white speed boat stopped near my boat and its captain told me that the engine of his boat had malfunctioned,” a fisherman, Rasheed, told The News about his ordeal three days ago.

“When I tried to help him out, some people in his boat jumped onto mine and took away 15 kilogrammes of prawns as well as cash, cell phones and other valuables from me and my crew,” he added.

Rasheed further said the pirates appeared to know well about fishing, suggesting that they too were fishermen.

“They knew what to take from the catch that will give them more profit.”

A PCG spokesperson told The News that the modus operandi of the pirates was the same in each robbery.

“We have to cover a huge area at sea. It’s possible for someone to use a speed boat to enter the sea from any side and deprive fishermen of their catch and valuables,” he added.

 “We have taken up this matter with the relevant security agencies including police and asked them to provide security to fishermen.”

The MSA said it had contacted fishermen’s representatives following the robberies and also called a meeting of all stakeholders.

Pakistan FisherFolk Forum spokesperson Kamal Shah said over 150 fishermen had been robbed by pirates in the last three months.

“The PFF has contacted the MSA and the PCG and informed them about this issue,” Shah added.

“MSA and PCG officials have responded to our complaint and assured that they will take steps to stop the pirates. But the robberies are increasing with each passing day.

The PFF spokesperson said the severity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that a fisherman was robbed at the same place twice within a span of a few days despite the MSA’s increased patrolling.

Shah said the robbers might be involved in the fishing business earlier given that they were aware of what they should take away from the fishermen from their catch.

 An MSA official, who wished not to be named, told The News that the fishermen, who had approached the agency to inform it about the robberies, were reluctant to provide details about the pirates’ appearance and their boats. The victims are not willing to cooperate with the MSA, and it is almost impossible to nab the pirates in the absence of concrete information,” he added.

MSA public relations official Rashid Waqas told The News that the agency had called a meeting of all stakeholders to devise a fresh security plan for fishermen.

“There is also the problem that there are two factions of fishermen and each claim to be the actual representatives,” he added.  “However, we have invited the heads of the both fishermen associations to have this issue resolved.”

Waqas noted that the two rival associations often hatched schemes against each other.

“It’s a possibility that these associations might themselves be involved in these robberies,” he added.