Off the wire
• 2nd LD Writethru-Roundup: Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic sworn in as Croatia's first woman president  • Police chief calls for further mainland-HK cooperation  • Officials punished for violating frugality rules  • Nigeria vows to announce poll results within 48 hours after voting  • Nigeria warns police not to use arms except in extreme circumstances  • Majority of Israelis against Netanyahu speaking on Iran in U.S. Congress: poll  • Sri Lankan president arrives in India on 4-day visit  • India refuses to invest more in joint infrastructure project with Iran, Afghanistan  • Finnish President condemns Copenhagen attacks  • Dubai Open results (updated)  
You are here: 　 Home

Pakistan releases 172 Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture

Xinhua, February 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pakistan on Sunday released 172 Indian fishermen from two different Jails in its southern port city of Karachi, local media and officials said.

According to the reports, the government of Pakistan decided to release the Indian fishermen from captivity as goodwill gesture, two days after the prime ministers of the two neighbors agreed to resume high-level talks.

The superintendent of Malir Jail in Karachi, Muhammad Sehto, said the prisoners were released after they had completed their term in jail.

The official said all the released fishermen will travel via train to the country's eastern city of Lahore form where they will be handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagha border crossing.

At least 349 other Indian prisoners are still in the two jails of Karachi, the official said.

The jail authorities with the assistance of the Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum (PFF) presented cash and the traditional gifts to the freed fishermen.

The fishermen were caught violating the Pakistani sea waters and were later sentenced by the local courts.

The coastal guards of Pakistan and India regularly arrest fishermen who allegedly violate unmarked territorial waters of the two countries. Endi