Pakistan

Goodwill gesture: 172 Indian fishermen released in Karachi

Release coincided with World Cup match between arch-rivals Pakistan and India; 349 Indian inmates still in custody

Afp February 15, 2015

A file photo of Indian fishermen. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Authorities on Sunday released 172 Indian fishermen who had been held for violating territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, officials said.

"As a goodwell gesture, we released 172 Indian fishermen today," Muhammad Hassan Sehto, Superintendent of Malir district jail in Karachi, where the fishermen were held, told AFP.

The release coincided with a cricket blockbuster World Cup match between arch-rivals Pakistan and India in Adelaide, Australia.

Sehto said 349 Indian inmates were still in custody, however.

Such arrests are frequently carried out by both countries as the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is poorly defined, and many fishing boats lack the technology needed to be certain of their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail even after serving their terms due to poor diplomatic ties between the arch-rivals.

Sehto said the freed fishermen will travel by train to Lahore, from where they will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah, the only active border crossing between the neighbours.

Another government official in Karachi confirmed the number and release of the fishermen. It was unclear how long they had been held prior to their release.

Last month, Pakistani marine forces arrested 38 Indian fishermen after they strayed into Pakistani waters.

Relations between Pakistan and India have taken a turn for the worse in recent months, with cross border violations on the disputed border in Kashmir.

COMMENTS (3)

Ashwin | 9 years ago | Reply Thank you for releasing them

Schabboo Khan | 9 years ago | Reply It is really awful to keep these poor people in jail. I am sure many of them don't even know where the Indian or Pakistani part of the Arabian Sea starts and where it ends. I am sure many of them are the sole bread winners of their families. So we are punishing may be thousands of individuals by keeping the hundreds locked up. Why can't we be more humane and find better alternatives. Such as imposing fines on the respective government but letting their people go. Then, periodically the two governments can tally the amounts and pay each other the few dollars difference. Or even better; use that money to buy these fishermen GPS based technology that enables them to discern dangerous territory .

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