2LT International News

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – In a goodwill gesture right before the country’s Independence Day, Pakistan released 30 Indian prisoners, including 27 fishermen, from jail.

The gesture by Pakistan also came a day before the country’s newly-elected Parliament is set to hold its first ever meeting to start the process of handing over powers to the new government.

In a statement announcing the release, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said, “This is a humanitarian gesture to mark Pakistan’s Independence day on August 14. The release of the prisoners is in line with Pakistan’s consistent policy of not politicizing humanitarian issues.”

The statement further noted, “The 30 prisoners being set free also include 27 fishermen.”

Faisal added, “This is a humanitarian gesture to mark Pakistan’s Independence day on August 14. It is our hope that the Indian side will also reciprocate in a similar manner.”

The release also comes a day after reports noted that Indian fishermen had been arrested by authorities for allegedly trespassing into Pakistan’s territorial waters.

The prisoners were reportedly shifted to Cantonment Railway Station from Karachi’s Malir jail and will be taken to Lahore. 

Then, the fishermen will be handed over to Indian border officials at the Wagah border.

According to an Indian government report that was submitted before the country’s Supreme Court in July, currently, over 470 Indians, including 418 fishermen, are detained in Pakistani jails.

Since there is no clear demarcation of the maritime border in the Arabian Sea, Pakistan and India frequently arrest fishermen.

What complicates the matter is that these fishermen do not have boats equipped with sophisticated technology for them to know their precise location.

Further, due to slow bureaucratic and legal procedures, the arrested fishermen usually remain in jail for several months.

However, despite the longtime rivalry between the two neighbors, they periodically set these fishermen free as a goodwill gesture.

Both the countries have also faced intense pressure from several non-governmental organizations that have raised the issue repeatedly.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Saad Edhi, an Edhi Foundation official told reporters at the railway station, that the charity has paid the travel expenses for the released Indian fishermen.

Edhi also called on the governments of Pakistan and India to relax the rules for the poor fishermen and said, “They represent the poorest section of two countries. They should be freed as early as possible and there should be less restrictions on fishing.”