KARACHI – As many as 89 Indian fishermen began their homeward journey on Thursday, after Pakistani authorities released them from the Malir jail. The fishermen – arrested by Pakistan Navy on charges of violating territorial waters – were put on two buses and sent to Lahore, where they will be handed over to Indian authorities on Friday at the Wagah border.
Some of the released fishermen belong to Kachh in the Indian state of Gujarat, and many also have close relatives in Karachi. A large number of these relatives also reached Malir jail to bid farewell and send gifts for the others. The buses were were arranged by a non-governmental organisation, Saiban Welfare Organization. Officials from Saiban were hopeful that the fishermen will be handed over to Indian authorities on Friday.
BM Kutti and Shujauddin Qureshi of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), as well as Saeed Baloch, Talib Kachi and Sami Memon from the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) presented gifts to the released fishermen. Justice retired Nasir Aslam Zahid was also present on the occasion.
This is not the first time that the navies and coast guards of Pakistan and India arrest fishermen over alleged violation of territorial waters: official records state that 341 Indian fishermen are languishing in Pakistani prisons. Even after the release of 89, another 252 Indian fishermen are lodged at Malir jail. Of these, 212 fishermen are under trial while 40 are awaiting release orders.
