Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has decided to release 51 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds as a gesture of goodwill. These prisoners have already served their sentences.
The prime minister directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate dialogue with India for the release of Pakistani prisoners and return of other Indian prisoners.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Minister for Law Ahmer Bilal Sufi, Sindh Chief Minister Zahid Qurban Alvi and senior officials of the ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Law and Justice and the PM’s Secretariat, a press release issued by PM’s house said on Friday.
It said the prime minister expressed hope that the Indian government will reciprocate the gesture and release Pakistani prisoners incarcerated in Indian jails.
Khoso was informed that currently 482 Indian prisoners were held in Pakistani jails whereas 496 Pakistanis were in Indian jails. He was informed that the government of Pakistan was awaiting the confirmation of national status of other Indian prisoners.