KARACHI: The government on Monday released 12 Indian fishermen imprisoned at the Landhi jail for violating Pakistan’s territorial sea waters. The released men identified as Jenti, Deva, son of Nathu, Jana, son of Ram, Bhavesh, son of Karshan, Karshan, son of Velji, Yogesh, son of Nanhu, Babu, son of Shamant, Karshan, son of Pala, Jena, son of Kara, Bhupt, son of Aibha, Bhupat, son of Govind, and Dhima, son of Rana, would travel to Lahore by bus and then handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border.
The Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) would bear all travelling expenses of these fishermen from Karachi to Lahore. The 12 fishermen were to be released with the 442 Indian fishermen earlier, after the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued directives to the Sindh government to speed up the cases following a petition, filed jointly by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and PILER.
However, the process was delayed due to lack of documentation. Still, 176 Indian fishermen are imprisoned at the Malir jail, out of which 128 have even completed the period of their sentences. The fishermen expressed their happiness after their release from the jail.
“I spent many days in the jail and now I will be able to see my family,” said one of them. Talking to media persons, PFF chairperson Mohammed Ali Shah said the fishermen are poor men and their detention by both Pakistani and Indian governments cannot be justified.
“There should be clear demarcations in the sea, so the fishermen may avoid crossing the territory, he said, adding that usually, the signs are not visible while the boats can also cross the zones due to high tides.
“The fishermen are detained by security forces and then suffer because governments delay in recognising them as their citizens.
They are forced to spend time in jails even after completing their sentences,” said Shah. The PFF would continue lobbying for fishermen and holding dialogue with both the governments along with the civil society and human rights activists of both countries for the release of detained fishermen and introducing a law to safeguard them.
PILER’s Sharafat Ali said the Indian government should also respond positively and release all the Pakistani fishermen languishing for years in Indian jails. Detention of fishermen from both sides is an old issue, which needs a permanent solution, he added.
