99 Indian fishermen released

The News International reports

Pakistani authorities released 99 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture on Tuesday. They were caught by Maritime Security Agency (MSA) for violating sea water jurisdictions during October 2006.

Haider Ali Haider of Saiban, an NGO told The News that he received letter by the Sindh Home Department on Monday evening to make arrangements for their safe departure by two buses from Malir district jail to Wahga Border, Lahore on Wednesday. They are to be handed over to the Indian authorities.

All the fishermen are above 18 years and belong to Gujrat, India. There is also one Mahboob Shah, 22, son of Qaim Shah, the only Muslim fisherman, among the released people. Despite demands by the human rights activists and fishermen representatives of both the sides—Pakistan and India—the governments could not settle the issue of arresting fishermen from the open sea while they are busy in their livelihood activity. Source

Daily Dawn reports

KARACHI, Nov 25: Prison authorities on Tuesday released 99 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture, reciprocating the recent release of 28 Pakistani prisoners from Indian jails, officials said.

The fishermen have been taken from Karachi to the eastern city of Lahore where they will be handed over to Indian authorities on Wednesday, said IG Prisons Yameen Khan.

“We have released them as a goodwill gesture,” Khan told AFP.

He said two additional prisoners would be released in Lahore, meaning a total of 101 prisoners would be handed over to the Indian authorities, but hundreds of their colleagues remain locked up in Sindh.

“We have still 355 Indian prisoners in our custody. All of them are fishermen and no one is involved in any criminal activities,” Khan said. Authorities here estimate that more than 100 Pakistani fishermen are languishing in Indian jails.