In a major development, Pakistan has released at least 198 Indians who were arrested for illegally entering the neighboring territory. According to Pakistani officials, all those arrested were fishermen and their security personnel allegedly caught them for illegal fishing in their territorial waters.
The fishermen were released from Malir Jail in Karachi on Thursday evening.
Malir Jail Superintendent Nazir Tunio said he had released the first batch of Indian fishermen prisoners and two more would be released in June and July.
“We released 198 prisoners on Thursday, while another 200 and 100 will be released later,” he said.
Two prisoners died days before their release
The official claimed that at least 200 Indian fishermen were to be released from jail on Thursday, but two of them died due to illness.
The two deceased fishermen included one Muhammad Zulfikar, who passed away on May 6, and Som Dev, who passed away on May 9 after a prolonged illness.
Their bodies have been kept at the mortuary of the Edhi Foundation until they can be brought to India.,
fishermen recorded for 4 years
Soma and his nephew are among a dozen Indian fishermen who were arrested at sea about four-and-a-half years ago and are lodged in Malir jail. Soma was sent to the hospital twice for treatment. Tunio said that Zulfiqar died of a heart attack.
Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Welfare Trust, which arranged the transport of the fishermen from Karachi to Lahore via train, where they were handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border, said some Indian fishermen also looked unwell.
“We try our best to make the journey back home comfortable and easy for these Indian fishermen. After all, most of them are in jail for the last 4 to 5 years.”
Second batch of prisoners will be released by July
The second batch of 200 Indian fishermen will be released on June 2 and another 100 on July 3 as per the agreement between the two governments, said Saeed Baloch, secretary general of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum.
Baloch said he has great sympathy for the Indian fishermen as most of them were out only for livelihood and did not even realize it when they crossed the territorial waters between the two countries.
“The sad part is that some of them had to spend 7 to 8 years in jail before getting a chance to return home,” he said.
Zahid Ibrahim Bhatti, administrator of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, Sindh, said that around 200 Pakistani fishermen are languishing in Indian jails and it is expected that they too will return home soon after the release of the Indian fishermen.
Pakistan and India regularly arrest rival fishermen for violating the maritime boundary, which is poorly marked at some points.
(With inputs from PTI)
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