Aisha had been waiting for her husband’s release for six days already, as Mallah was to be set free from the Indian jail on Eidul Fitr. However, what arrived at her doorstep on Thursday, September 17, was news of Mallah’s death.
“My husband had passed away five days ago, but we have been informed about his death now,” said Aisha, who held her three-month-old daughter in her arms. “Nobody has given us the exact date regarding the repatriation of his body. Men at the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) say that they have contacted India and the body will arrive soon,” she added.
As news of Mallah’s sudden death spread, people from various coastal villages started arriving at the young fisherman’s house in Ibrahim Hyderi to condole with the grieving family, which included Mallah’s wife, daughter, sister and mother.
Mallah belonged to the Khalifa village in Keti Bunder and was the sole breadwinner for his family, which was forced to move to Ibrahim Hyderi after his arrest.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PFF spokesperson Sami Memon said that the deceased was one of the 58 fishermen who were to be released from the Gujrat Jail in India on Eid. The detained men were meant to be sent back home after the Pakistani government decided to release 442 Indian fishermen.
However, due to a delay in the documentation process, only nine fishermen were released on September 11. And while Mallah was one of the fishermen who had been granted freedom, he collapsed as soon as he was released and died on the way to hospital, while his fellow prisoners made their way home. “We do not have information regarding the cause of his death. But no one can deny that he was suffering from a liver problem,” said Memon.
We have contacted fishermen organisations in India, said Memon. The latter had informed the PFF that there were some legal requirements that needed to be dealt with before the body could be sent to Pakistan and that the process might take a few days.
There are 149 Pakistani fishermen who are languishing in Indian jails, said Memon, who added that the PFF and its partners will continue to work for their safe release.
“PILER executive director Karamat Ali is currently in India, along with Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid and advocate Iqbal Haider. They men have filed a petition with the Indian Supreme Court for the release of Pakistani fishermen. We are hopeful regarding the decision of the Indian apex court,” he added.
However, the PFF spokesperson blamed the Pakistan High Commission in India for “delaying” work.
Our officials take too long in recognizing the detained fishermen as Pakistani citizens, which is why many Pakistanis have been awaiting their release for a long time, said Memon. He demanded that the government expedite the process and compensate Mallah’s family for his death.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2010.
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