78 Indian fishermen found their way back to their home country on Monday, two years after having been detained by Pakistani maritime security agency for trespassing into Pakistani territory.
Despite their painstaking return to freedom, the Indian nationals say they can forget their years of imprisonment, thanks to a renowned Pakistani social organisation, the Edhi Foundation.
Islamabad, as a goodwill gesture, had released these prisoners from a Karachi jail on Sunday, following which the NGO took their responsibility .
Now released Indian prisoner Kanji, told that he was anxious about being handed over to unknown entities and expected worse treatment, but to his surprise the prisoners were given food, cash and gifts by the foundation’s volunteers.
“I wish governments of both the countries would behave like the volunteers of Edhi foundation,” -Kanji.
“I may forget the time spent in jail but not the love and affection shown by Edhi foundation volunteers. They didn’t know us and yet gave us Rs 5,000 each along with gifts. They were generous.”- another prisoner: Karsan.
Apart from cash, the NGO had to book an entire compartment on a Karachi-Lahore train for the fishermen since there were no tickets available for the required date.
Both the gesture from Edhi Foundation and its reception from and kind words by the former Indian Prisoners is a welcome change from the omnipresent hostility between the two bordered nations.