Karachi: Pakistan on Saturday released 180 Indian
nationals including 179 fishermen, imprisoned for violating
territorial waters, as part of measures to normalise relations
with India.
The released Indian nationals were later put on four
buses which will take them to Wagah border near Lahore for
their handing over to the Indian authorities on Sunday.
Police is accompanying the four buses for security
reasons.
"The authorities today have released 180 prisoners which
is a very positive development and a vindication of our
efforts to improve relations between the two countries,"
Justice retired Aslam Nasir Zahid who heads a non-governmental
organisation told reporters.
The organisation is working with an Indian NGO to provide
justice and relief to prisoners mostly poor fishermen jailed
in Pakistani and Indian jails.
Zahid said the Indian prisoners that included one
civilian, Sama Yousuf were released by the government as a
goodwill gesture for the start of the New Year.
Yousuf was arrested by Pakistani authorities after
straying into Pakistan after crossing the border. He said they
were still 276 Indian fishermen in jails in Karachi while in
recent times the authorities had seized around 320 boats as
well.
Marine authorities frequently arrest and seize Indian
fishermen and their boats when they wander into Pakistani
territorial waters.
Zahid said his organisation was also making efforts to
locate missing Pakistani fishermen and get around 42 fishermen
in Indian jails.
PTI
