KARACHI: Three armed Palestinian guerrillas seized a Greek ship “Vori”, berthed at Karachi’s West Wharf, at 4 p.m. yesterday [Feb 2] and threatened to blow up the vessel within 24 hours (by 4 p.m. today) unless two Arab commandos sentenced to death in Greece were released. The guerrillas locked up the Chief Officer and the Chief Engineer of the ship in the captain’s cabin as hostages. They had also at first made the aged captain … their hostage, but later released him after he ... fainted.

The ship had entered Karachi Harbour recently bringing sugar for Pakistan from Brazil. … The seized ship has a crew of 33, out of which 10 are Arabs from Sudan, Syria and Egypt. On request of the three guerrillas, the entire crew … has been served with tea, coffee, and other refreshments. The guerrillas have been identified as members of the “Muslim International Guerrillas” group. Pakistan Government authorities have alr­eady established contact with the Palestinian commandos and negotiations for the release of the ship and the two hostages were under way. … Soon after news of the seizure … was communicated … top officials rushed to the West Wharf berth.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2024