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Fishermen stuck in jail as trade opens up
Pakistan and India have opened up trade even through disputed Kashmir, but the poor fishermen of both the countries continue to suffer at the hands of maritime security agencies, which often catch them on charges of fishing in the territorial waters of the other nation and put them behind bars for long periods.
- IANS
- Published: 23:31 October 28, 2008
Islamabad: Pakistan and India have opened up trade even through disputed Kashmir, but the poor fishermen of both the countries continue to suffer at the hands of maritime security agencies, which often catch them on charges of fishing in the territorial waters of the other nation and put them behind bars for long periods.
Recently, a delegation of the All Gujarat Fishermen Foundation that was in Karachi was not allowed to meet the Indian fishermen lodged in Pakistani jails, All Pakistan Fishermen Society (APFS) general secretary Rashid Memon said.
He said the Indian fishermen delegation led by Walji Bhai was allowed to inspect the boats seized by Pakistani security forces but was refused permission to meet the Indian fishermen being kept in different jails of Karachi.
Memon said that according to his information more than 400 Indian fishermen are in Pakistani jails while about 90 Pakistani fishermen are in Indian jails.
He said occasionally fishermen from one country drift into the territorial waters of the other due to strong currents and are captured by security forces and put in jail where some even have to spend years.
The fishermen on both sides of the border are of the view that there is much more to arresting the fishermen than security concerns. Leaders of fishermen's organisations claimed that senior officials of the security agencies in both the countries encourage their juniors to arrest the fishermen soon after they cross the invisible marine border.
The leaders also point out that the border is not defined properly, and there are some disputes too.
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