Two fishermen Hussain Walri and Haneef Murgher, who have been released from an Indian jail after 22 years, arrived in Karachi on Monday.
Their family members and relatives, with a large number of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) activists, received them at the Super Highway and then took them to Sachal Hall, Ibrahim Hydri, Karachi where PFF Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah and others gave them gifts and congratulated their family members.
It was an excited scene when the family members joyfully greeted their loved ones after a long period after their release and thanked PFF for its struggle to get them freed.
PFF statement on Monday said five fishermen with their boat had gone missing in year 1993 from the open sea. After a long period they came to know that these fishermen have been languishing in Indian jail, facing criminal charges. Then they were awarded life imprisonment with fine of Rs 100,000 on each.
Three fishermen out of five including Siddiq, Achar and Meenhan Wasayo were released earlier about three years back and they reached home without informing their relatives. The PFF chairperson took up the issue of release of the other two fishermen at the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP) in New Delhi, and he was informed that they have completed their sentences but since they do not have the amount to pay fine, they are in jail.
Hussain Walri has three children, while Hanif Murgher is unmarried. Pakistan has released 163 Indian fishermen in goodwill gesture quite recently. This was the result of the meeting between the two prime ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi met in Ufa, Russia on the occasion of SCO summit.
However, PFF chairperson has also taken the issue of three fishermen belonging to Rehri Mayan, Karachi, who have been in Indian jails for the last 16 years. Muhammad Ali Shah expressed the hope that these remaining fishermen will be released soon with the efforts of WFFP and Indian human rights defenders.
While talking to the community people gathered at Sachal Hall, Shah assured them that they are struggling to make the free all the fishermen detained in India.
