Pakistan releases 198 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds

Pakistan releases 198 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds

Pakistan

They were handed over to India at the Wagah border crossing

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan has released 198 Indian fishermen who were arrested for illegally fishing in the country's waters, on humanitarian grounds. 

The Foreign Office, in a statement, said the released fishermen had been handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah Border in Lahore.

The fishermen were released from the Malir Jail in Karachi on Thursday evening and they were brought to Lahore via train. 

Malir Jail Superintendent Nazir Tunio told media that they had released the first batch of Indian fishermen prisoners, adding that more would be set at liberty in June and July.

Pakistan was to release 200 Indian fishermen on Thursday from Malir jail but two of them died due to illness. The two deceased fishermen have been identified as Muhammad Zulfiqar and Soma Deva. Their bodies have been kept in the Edhi Foundation mortuary as arrangements are being made to repatriate them to India.