Humanitarian Efforts:
Burney has been involved in various humanitarian missions, including the release of hostages from Somali pirates. In 2011, he played a key role in securing the release of the MV Suez ship and its crew by launching a national campaign to raise funds. He also traveled to several countries, including the UAE, Egypt, and India, to negotiate their release.
In 2012, he offered to bring back the body of Ajmal Kasab to Pakistan after India claimed that Pakistan had refused to accept it. He took this step based on humanitarian grounds.
Burney has also been active in the fight against corruption. In 2011, he announced plans to start an anti-corruption movement in Pakistan, inspired by Indian activist Anna Hazare.
Awards and Recognition:
Burney has received over 250 national and international awards for his contributions to human rights. He was the first Pakistani to receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for human rights work in 2002. In 2012, he was honored with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian awards.
Internationally, he has been recognized as an Anti-Human Trafficking Hero by the U.S. government for his efforts against child slavery. He also received the Mother Teresa Memorial Award in 2008 for his humanitarian work.
Ansar Burney continues to be a strong voice for human rights and justice, both in Pakistan and around the world.