The Hindu : Front Page : Pakistan frees Indian prisoners

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 13, 2007
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Pakistan frees Indian prisoners

—PHOTO: AFP

GOODWILL GESTURE: Indian fishermen being released from a jail in Karachi on Sunday.

New Delhi/Karachi: Over 148 Indian and Pakistani fishermen and 60 civilian prisoners, lodged in jails in the two countries, will be repatriated over the next two days.

While Pakistan on Sunday freed 100 Indian fishermen and 35 civilian prisoners, India will release all the 48 Pakistani fishermen and 24 civilian prisoners on Tuesday. “The Pakistan government has decided to release 100 Indian fishermen and 35 civilian prisoners,” Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Afrasiab told PTI in New Delhi.

Children also released

In Karachi, senior police official Tariq Shah said 18 children aged up to 17 had been released from a juvenile jail in Landhi and 82 adults from Malir jail.

“They have already been sent to Lahore by road and will cross into India on Tuesday,” Mr. Shah said.

He said all the released prisoners were fishermen arrested for allegedly straying into Pakistani coastal waters in the last three years.

“They were all very happy to return home,” he added

Saram Burney of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust which works for the release of foreign prisoners in Pakistani jails for petty offences said 35 more Indian prisoners would join the 100 in Lahore. — PTI

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