PMSA arrests 60 Indian fishermen

KARACHI: The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) apprehended 60 Indian fishermen and 10 wooden boats for fishing in the Pakistani waters Thursday morning.

According to the PMSA spokesperson, the fishermen, when caught, were found fishing in violation of the Pakistani territory in Kajhar Creek of the Arabian Sea on Thursday.



An FIR was registered against the fishermen at the Docks police station on Friday and they would be produced in court today [Saturday]. It is expected that the fishermen will be sent to Landhi prison after appearing in the courts.

The Pakistan Fishermen Folk Forum spokesperson termed the move as a tit for tat saying, these fishermen have been arrested in reaction to the Indian action against Pakistani fishermen. “Whenever Pakistan or Indian fishermen are arrested, the marine security agencies of both the countries become hyper active to take revenge,” he said. The PFF spokesperson said hundreds of fishermen from both the countries stray into territorial waters each year in search of fish and are caught by the security agencies of both the countries.

It may be mentioned that Pakistan earlier had released 440 Indian fishermen between December 28 and January 5 as a goodwill gesture. However, 150 Pakistani fishermen are still languishing in Indian jails waiting to hear good news from the Indian government.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2017.