ISLAMABAD: A day before the much-anticipated Pakistan-India cricket clash, Pakistan has extended a goodwill gesture by releasing 22 Indian fishermen and handing them over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border after completing their sentences.
The fishermen, previously held at Karachi’s Malir Jail, were freed on Friday and transported to Lahore before their repatriation via the Wagah border on Saturday.
Humanitarian Support & Calls for Reform
Malir Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah confirmed that the fishermen had been imprisoned for unintentionally crossing into Pakistan’s territorial waters. The Edhi Foundation, led by Faisal Edhi, arranged their transportation, covered travel expenses, and provided financial assistance along with gifts.
Faisal Edhi urged both India and Pakistan to adopt a more compassionate approach toward detained fishermen, emphasizing the hardships their families endure and calling for faster repatriations after sentence completion.
Frequent Arrests Over Maritime Borders
Poorly demarcated sea boundaries often lead to arrests of fishermen from both nations. As per the latest prisoner exchange lists shared on January 1, 2025:
- Pakistan holds 266 Indian prisoners (49 civilians, 217 fishermen).
- India holds 462 Pakistani prisoners (381 civilians, 81 fishermen).
While both nations periodically exchange prisoners, political tensions often delay repatriations despite humanitarian appeals.
