Pakistan frees 26 Indian fishermen in goodwill gesture

Karachi: Twenty-six Indian fishermen held in prison for more than two years for infringing on territorial waters were released yesterday as a "goodwill gesture", officials said.

The release comes days after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had gone to India on a personal visit and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

"We have freed 25 Indian fishermen this [Thursday] morning and they will ride in a bus to go to Lahore from where they would go to India," Sunil Shah, an official at Malir Jail, told Gulf News.

"One man named Samat who can't walk due to advanced stage of cancer will be carried on a stretcher to the airport early Friday morning for Lahore," Shah said.

Samat Lakshman Bambhaniya, 30, was released from jail earlier after President Asif Ali Zardari ordered to set him free.

Heavily indebted

Talking to the media earlier, Bambhaniya said he ventured into Pakistani waters in search of a big catch. "Heavy personal loans on family compelled me to venture into deep seas," he said.

"I had to pay back Rs700,000 [Dh49,852] in loan and needed much more to meet my medical expenses," Samat said, lying on a stretcher in the jail garden.

"At least I can go back home and see my parents, wife and a daughter," Samat said, expressing his gratitude to the Pakistani president.

His release was made possible when Ansar Burney Trust, a local NGO, was apprised of his case. The trust approached the presidential office to get him freed along with the batch of 25 fishermen who were scheduled to be released.

"We were informed that he was languishing in jail for one and half years and the cancer is in its final stage and that he could die any time," Sarim Burney of the trust told Gulf News.

"The president's office responded quickly and we arranged all things. Tomorrow, I will fly with him to Lahore," Burney said.

450 more in jails

Officials say at least 450 Indian fishermen are still in Pakistani jails, while India has over 150 Pakistani fishermen in its prisons.

Hundreds of Pakistani and Indian fishermen are caught and jailed by enforcement agencies for violating maritime boundaries as there is no marked sign of a border. Ill-equipped and ill-literate, fishermen from both the countries serve years in prison, only to be released when top diplomatic missions of both countries finalise an arrangement.

After the departure of the latest batch of fishermen, 423 fishermen still languish, waiting for cumbersome file work to be released.

"I am happy that I will meet with my family," Jagdesh Ponja, who belongs to Gujarat, said. "But I will certainly miss my fellow countrymen and would pray for their early release."