Ten fishermen freed from Indian jails return home

Given warm welcome and financial aid of Rs20,000 each

KARACHI:

Following the efforts of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari 10 more Pakistani fishermen, freed from an Indian prison, arrived Karachi via Lahore.

Welfare Coordinator Ali Asghar Shah on the directives of Administrator Fishermen's Cooperative Society, Zahid Ibrahim Bhatti, extended a warm welcome to the fishermen at Edhi Foundation Tower. Each fishermen was also given Rs20,000 cash as financial aid. The fishermen were filled with emotion while meeting their families.

The fisherman was taken into custody by Indian authorities between 2010 and 2018-2019. Six of them are the residents of the Jetti area of Karachi and four hail from Thatta.

While talking to the media, Zahid Ibrahim Bhatti and Ali Asghar Shah said that only 19 Pakistani fishermen received release permits from India after Pakistan freed 400 Indian fishermen. Ali Asghar Shah expressed hope that India will free another 89 Pakistani fishermen immediately so that a spirit of brotherhood might grow between the two countries.

He said poor fishermen would take benefit from improved ties between the two countries and will be able to improve their livelihood.

Arriving fishermen including Mushtaq Ahmed, Muhammad Ramzan, Abdul Amin, Muhammad Arif, Fareed Alam, and Roshan Ali are the residents of Karachi while Ahmed, Muhammad Hamzo, Loung Mallah, and Rahab Ali are from Thatta.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2023.