Islamabad, Oct 26: Pakistan Police sent four Indian fishermen detained recently off Karachi coast to prison today, taking the total number of Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistani prisons to 89. Four captains of Indian boats were arrested for allegedly violating Pakistan's territorial waters, the country’s official news agency reported.
These were the first arrests after India two days ago proposed liberalisation of procedures to prevent mass arrests of fishermen on both sides. India had earlier informed Pakistan of its decision to release 93 Pakistani fishermen and their boats, currently held in Gujarat and requested Islamabad to depute officials to receive them.
A Pakistani fishermen co-operative delegation is currently in Gujarat and they were expected to be released after Pakistan High Commission deputes its officials to receive them along with their boats. India awaited Pakistan response to the note verbal sent in this regard on October 14, Indian High Commission officials here said.
According to the Indian High Commission officials here, India was eager to release the fishermen as Pakistan linked the release of 74 Indian fishermen to the release of Pakistani fishermen. Bureau Report