finally managed to contact the Pakistani Embassy in Sudan they were given full support – until it was revealed that the company that arranged their travel and sold them into slavery was actually owned by a senior minister in Pakistan. The men were abandoned and left to suffer even longer. The Ansar Burney Trust was informed through volunteers and launched a campaign for the return of the men; who were finally returned a few months later. Release of hostages from Somali pirates MV Suez, a Panamanian flag cargo vessel with 22 crew members was hijacked by Somali pirates on 4 August 2010. The crew consisted of eleven Egyptians, six Indians, four Pakistanis and a Sri Lankan. The pirates demanded a ransom of $20 million from the ship's owner; however they could only manage $1 million. In desperation, the pirates allowed the crew members to contact their homes. Unable to raise the large sum of money to pay the ransom, the families contacted Burney who, along with Governor of Sindh Dr. Israt Ibab, launched a national campaign to raise the funds. Burney travelled to the UAE, Egypt, Somalia, and India in a bid to secure the release of the crew members. He finally succeeded and the vessel was released on 13 June 2011. An operation was then launched by the Pakistan Navy entitled Operation Umeed-e-Nuh to escort the ship and its sailors to Karachi, Pakistan. Offer to bring back the body of Ajmal Kasab In November 2012, after the Government of India stated that Pakistan had refused to claim the body of slain alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba Terrorist Ajmal Kasab, Burney offered to bring back the body to Pakistan citing humanitarian causes. Anti-corruption movement On 22 August 2011, Ansar Buney announced that following the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations at the end of Ramadan, he would initiate an anti-corruption movement in Pakistan based on the popular movement of Anna Hazare in India. Allegations While working for the release of Indian prisoner in Pakistan Sarabjit Singh's sister has alleged that Ansar Burney told her that 250 million rupees was being demanded by Pakistani army to bring Sarabjit Singh back to India. Awards and recognition Due to his prominent work, Ansar Burney is widely recognised as the first man to introduce the concept of human rights in Pakistan. In 1991, due to his work and achievements in the field of human rights at a young age, particularly his