Pakistan hands over 100 Indian prisoners

Pakistan handed over 100 Indian prisoners to the Indian authorities at Wagha border on Tuesday a day after they were released from a Karachi prison, officials said.

Some 442 Indian fishermen who completed their prison sentences will be released in four batches.

Another group of 100 fishermen will leave the prison on Sept. 2, a third batch of 101 prisoners on Sept. 4, while the last group of 141 prisoners will leave on Sept. 6.

They were held for fishing illegally in Pakistani waters near Sir Creek.

Two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, had filed a petition in the Supreme Court for release of the fishermen.

Former Federal Law Minister Iqbal Haider, who had taken up the case for the NGOs, said there are 456 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails but the government ordered the release of 442. The fate of 14 other fishermen was not yet known.

Both countries arrest each other's fishermen for illegal fishing.

Source: Xinhua