Islamabad, Jan 7: Pakistan Sunday freed 147 Indian fishermen who were imprisoned in Karachi eight months ago for allegedly fishing in its territorial waters, according to a media report.
Their release follows a December announcement by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal that nearly 300 Indian fishermen would be freed in two phases till January 8.
On December 28, Pakistan had released the first batch of 145 Indian fishermen, who were held there on similar charges. The process for returning the 147 fishermen has been initiated, as they were set to travel to Lahore this afternoon on the Allama Iqbal Express from the Karachi Cantonment railway station, the Dawn reported.
From Lahore, the fishermen will cross the Wagah border and return home, the report quoted Karachi’s Malir jail officials as saying. They said the travel expenses of the fishermen were being borne by the Edhi Foundation, a Pakistan-based not-for-profit welfare organisation. “Some 262 Indian fishermen remain imprisoned at Malir jail still,” jail superintendent Hassan Sehto said.
PTI
