Territorial trespassing: Pakistan to release 89 Indian fishermen

Four retire­d Indian judges visiti­ng Pakist­an from April 19 to 23.

KARACHI:

Pakistan will release 89 Indian fishermen who have been languishing in Malir jail, announced the Indo-Pak Joint Judicial Committee’s Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid at a press conference on Wednesday.

Former senator Syed Iqbal Haider, General Secretary of the Pakistan Peace Coalition B. M. Kutty, and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum’s Mohammad Ali Shah flanked him.

The fishermen were arrested for being in Pakistan’s territorial waters, and will be handed over to the Indian authorities on Friday, April 15, at the Wagah border at 11 am.

“Keeping fishermen in custody does not benefit either country,” said Zahid. “Both countries should release the arrested fishermen on humanitarian grounds.” The Indo-Pak Joint Judicial Committee is holding a meeting this month, with four retired Indian judges visiting Pakistan from April 19 to April 23.

The purpose of their trip is to visit jails and meet Indian prisoners.

The 89 Indian fishermen are part of a total of 122 fishermen that have undergone trial. Justice Nasir said that the remaining 33 fishermen shall also be released, after the fulfillment of diplomatic formalities.

The establishment of a buffer zone by India and Pakistan could avoid the constant arrests of fishermen, said Shah.

Both countries should demarcate 50 nautical miles to establish a neutral zone where fishermen of both countries could easily work. Shah said that their confiscated boats should be returned.

A task force, along the lines of the one established between India and Sri Lanka, should be set up.

This would help resolve issues in time and limit the number of fishermen arrested.

The plight of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails is lamentable, said Haider. He highlighted the case of 78-year-old Mohammad Khalil Chisti, who has been behind bars for the past 20 years, and in 2010 was given a life sentence.

However, members of Indian civil society have applied for his release on humanitarian grounds, given that he has a heart condition and cannot walk.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th,  2011.