Vadodara, Sept 26: A Pakistani fishermen delegation, camping at Okha port in Gujarat, has urged Pakistan Interior Ministry to speed up the release of 74 Indian fishermen languishing in that country. Mohammed Gazanfar Ali Boota, former chairman of the fisheries cooperatives societies of Pakistan and a member of the delegation, told a news agency that the Departure of the Fishermen from Pakistan had been delayed due to certain legal formalities.

The 74 fishermen were to depart from Karachi Port on September 24 and were expected to reach Okha Port today. Since the Pakistani delegation left for India four days ago, it had no idea as to why they were not released, Boota added.

The delegation, which had come to India to discuss the issue of release of 93 Pakistani fishermen and their boats, had stayed on to ensure the release of 343 Indian fishermen and their 53 boats in their country, he said. A total of 269 fishermen and 30 Indian boats were released on September 4. After reaching Okha yesterday, Boota said he got in touch with the Pakistani Marine Security Agency (MSA) and asked the reasons behind delay in Departure of Indian Fishermen.

Pakistani marine security agency informed Boota that they had completed all the formalities needed for their departure and were waiting for "instructions" from Islamabad.


Boota reportedly also spoke to Fazal Hakeem, an official in Pakistani interior ministry in Islamabad, over the phone today. Bureau Report