`No Pak prisoners in Indian jails who have completed sentence`

New Delhi: India on Friday rejected Pakistan government`s claim that there were 25 Pakistanis languishing in various prisons in the country even after completing their jail terms.

"Let me confirm to you that there are no Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed (by Pakistan)," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here. He further said those who are in Indian jails from Pakistan as of now are the prisoners whose nationality either has not been confirmed by Pakistani government or who have not completed their judicial sentence. Pakistan last month had said that a total of 484 Pakistani prisoners are languishing in Indian jails which included 25 prisoners who have completed their sentences. India on May 30 had released 37 Pakistani prisoners, including 32 fishermen and two civilians, days after Pakistan released 151 Indian prisoners. The prisoners, lodged in different jails in the country, were handed over to the Pakistani authorities at the Wagah border. Before his travel to India to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif had ordered release of 151 Indian prisoners, including 150 fishermen and one civilian, and 57 boats. According to Indian activists, at present around 229 Indian fishermen and about 780 Indian boats are in the custody of Pakistan. Pakistan maritime security forces frequently arrest Indian fishermen and seize their boats for fishing in its territorial waters.