Pakistan releases 147 Indian fishermen

Fishermen were taken to Lahore from where they cross over to India from the Wagah Border

KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday freed the second batch of 147 Indian fishermen who had been languishing in a Karachi jail for the last eight months for fishing in its territorial waters.

Police have confirmed that the fishermen imprisoned at the Karachi’s District Jail, Malir, were released in a goodwill gesture.

Later, they were taken to Karachi Cantonment Railway Station where they were boarded on the Lahore-bound Allama Iqbal Express.

They will be handed over to Indian officials on Monday at the Wagah border crossing, a senior police official said.



Their travel expenses have been borne by the not-for-profit welfare organisation Edhi Foundation that also distributed gifts and cash among the freed fishermen.

According to District Jail, Malir Superintendent Hassan Sehto, this was the second batch of the Indian fishermen which was released.

On December 28, Pakistan had released the first batch of 145 Indian fishermen, who were held on similar charges.

Their release follows a December announcement by Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal that nearly 300 Indian fishermen would be freed in two phases till January 8. Some 262 Indian fishermen remain imprisoned at the Malir jail.

“Some 262 Indian fishermen still remain imprisoned at Malir jail,” Sehto said.

Fishermen from Pakistan and India are frequently detained for illegally fishing in each other’s territorial waters since the Arabian Sea does not have a clearly defined marine border and the wooden boats lack the technology to avoid being drifted away.

Owing to prolonged bureaucratic and legal procedures, the fishermen usually languish in jail for several months.

A number of non-governmental organisations in both India and Pakistan have raised the issue, pressing their governments to release arrested fishermen without much delay.