KARACHI – Jail authorities have confirmed the release of as many as 36 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, in a move that came only a day after closing of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
The release of the prisoners from Karachi’s district jail Malir came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif warmly shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the 18th SAARC Summit in Nepal.
The released Indian prisoners included 36 fishermen and four others, Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman of Edhi Foundation charity sai
“Our organization is providing transport to take them to Wagah border with a packet containing clothes for their families and Rs. 10,000 in cash to each of the released prisoners,” Kazmi added.
They will be taken to Lahore and handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border.
The government so far has not commented on the release but an official said on anonymity that it was a goodwill gesture and the arrested Indians were set free on humanitarian grounds.
“When Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited India in May, we released 151 prisoners,” the official said.
He said India should also release Pakistani prisoners and fishermen.
India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishermen who venture into unmarked territorial waters of the two countries.
