163 Indian fishermen released

Karachi
Local authorities on Sunday released 163 Indian fishermen held for violating Pakistan's territorial waters as a goodwill gesture amid tensions over the recent disputes in Himalayan territory of Kashmir and an attack on a police station in Gurdaspur, India.
The fishermen were freed from Malir jail in the southern port city of Karachi.
"We have a total 660 Indians in the prison and most of them are fishermen, who were arrested for violations of territorial waters in the Arabian Sea during the last two years. We have (today) released 163 fishermen as a goodwill gesture," said jail superintendent Muhammad Hassan Sehto.
Those released include five children aged between 10 and 14.
A 10-year-old from India´s Gujarat state, who spent eight months behind bars, left with tears of emotion while a 12-year-old named Bharat said he had been incarcerated for 18 months, "just because there is no line in the water (between India and Pakistan)".
Pakistan´s leading charity organisation, the Edhi Foundation, paid the travel expenses of the fishermen and presented them with gifts on their departure from the railway station.
The fishermen were received by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and philanthropist Faisal Edhi who took them to the Cantonment Railway Station for their departure to Lahore; they would then cross into India through the Wahga Border.
PFF General Secretary Saeed Baloch welcomed the Pakistan government’s decision and hoped the Indian government would respond with a similar gesture.
Baloch further added that the remaining 193 Indian fishermen still languishing in Pakistani jails and around 99 Pakistan fishermen in Indian jails would be able to get to their respective homes, once both the countries established a healthy relationship.
Referring to an earlier statement issued by India which confirmed that only 27 Pakistani fishermen were in their custody, he claimed there were more people because they had gone missing from the open sea.
Justifying his case, he added that parents of some fishermen received letters stating they were in Indian jails.
Blaoch said both the governments, Pakistan and India, should release all fishermen with the spirit to strengthen bilateral ties.
“The parents and relatives of Pakistani fishermen here are waiting to see their loved ones.”