More than three months after the hijacking of the cargo vessel MT Honour 25, rapper Talha Anjum has once again turned public attention to the fate of the Pakistani sailors still being held hostage off the coast of Somalia, accusing the government and the media of failing the families who continue to wait for their loved ones' return.
In an Instagram Story shared on Thursday, the rapper expressed frustration over what he described as the state's inability to protect its citizens, whether inside Pakistan or overseas.
“The Pakistani government cannot protect its citizens, whether it’s at home or in another country,” Anjum wrote, while lamenting that the hostage crisis had gradually disappeared from the national conversation.
He also criticized the lack of sustained public attention surrounding the case, saying the affected families had been left to struggle in silence.
“The media forgot about these families and sadly, so did the people of Pakistan,” he added, urging people not to let the issue fade from memory.
Anjum was joined by music producer and longtime collaborator Umair Tahir, popularly known simply as Umair, who also used social media to call for the safe return of everyone aboard the hijacked vessel. In his post shared early Friday, Umair appealed for the rescue of all 17 crew members who were on MT Honour 25 when it was seized by pirates near the Somali coast.
The vessel was hijacked in April, triggering widespread concern across Pakistan and prompting repeated demands for authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of the hostages. Of the crew members, 10 are Pakistani nationals whose families have spent months waiting for concrete updates.
Anjum has remained one of the most vocal public figures on the issue since the incident first unfolded. Shortly after the hijacking, he revealed that one of the Pakistani sailors was someone he knew personally, describing him as “like a brother.” At the time, the rapper said he felt ashamed by what he called the government's lack of urgency and criticized what he described as a tendency to push such crises “under the rug.” He urged officials to act swiftly and bring the sailors home.
Earlier in June, Anjum pressed authorities to take stronger action, this time calling on Pakistan's Foreign Office to establish a dedicated helpline staffed around the clock for the families of the hostages. He argued that relatives deserved timely and transparent information rather than occasional official statements saying the government remained in contact with Somali maritime authorities.
As concern over the hostages continues, several well-known Pakistani celebrities have also lent their voices to the campaign. Actors Mahira Khan, Sabeena Farooq, and Bushra Ansari have all publicly appealed for greater attention to the sailors' plight, urging authorities to prioritize their safe return.
Read more: Talha Anjum breaks silence on Nadia Khan interview, says he felt like a politician
