Detained fishermen’s families left to fend for themselves

Many are on the verge of starvation as their primary breadwinners are gone

KARACHI: The lives of the families of Pakistani fishermen detained by the Indian maritime authorities are coloured with worry and poverty. Many of the families are on the verge of starvation and prone to disease.

The detention of a 50-year-old terminal cancer patient, Ameer Hamza, has left his family suffering from more than just a broken heart.

Fifteen Pakistani fishermen were captured by the Indian navy near Kajhar Creek, Thatta about a month ago. Food supplies back at their houses finished after a few days and, since their breadwinners were gone, the fishermen’s families were living hand to mouth.

Hamza was also captured and has been kept in detention. His children have been seen weeping and protesting the treatment being meted out to them. His wife left him a few years ago, leaving behind four children, two of whom are infants while the other two are 12 and 10. Unable to gather enough funds to eat, let alone pay rent, the children fear they may soon be deprived of the roof above their heads.



Hamza's family is one of the many poor households who have nowhere to look to in their times of trouble, including the fisheries department. A few days ago, Fisheries Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani had announced rationing of Rs10,000 per month for families of detained fishermen but the pledge remains to be honoured.

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), a nonprofit organisation working for the rights of fishermen, is taking steps to ensure rations for the destitute households. The NGO, however, believes that the government has an equal role in ensuring the families of detained fishermen are taken care of.

PFF Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah told Express News that about 175 Pakistani fishermen have been held in Indian jails. Most of the detainees hail from Thatta and Badin while quite a come from the Rehri and Ibrahim Hyderi villages of Karachi.