Caretaker prime minister decides to release 51 Indian fishermen

482 Indian prisoners currently in Pakistani jails, 496 Pakistanis in Indian jails.

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (r)  Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has decided to release 51 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds as a gesture of good will. The prisoners have already served their sentences.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting attended by Federal Minister for Law Ahmer Bilal Sufi, Chief Minister Sindh Justice (r) Zahid Qurban Alvi and senior officials of the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Law and Justice and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

Khoso expressed hope that the Indian government will reciprocate the gesture and release the Pakistani prisoners incarcerated in Indian jails.

The prime minister was informed that currently 482 Indian prisoners were in Pakistani jails, whereas 496 Pakistanis were in Indian jails.

He was further informed that the Government of Pakistan was awaiting the confirmation of national status of other Indian prisoners.

Khoso directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate dialogue with India for the release of Pakistani prisoners and the return of Indian prisoners.