Pakistan as a gesture of goodwill has freed 20 Indian fishermen from Karachi’s Landhi Jail and will hand them over to the Indian authorities at Wagah border, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Landhi Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah told 24News TV channel on Sunday that the Indian fishermen were in jail for four years as they were arrested for violating Pakistan’s maritime boundaries.
Arshad Shah further informed that the Indian authorities had confirmed that these fishermen were their nationals.
There were 588 Indian prisoners in Landhi Jail and legal requirements for the release of these 20 fishermen had been completed before their release.
Edhi Welfare Foundation bore all the travel expenses for the freed Indians, who will be transported to the Wagah border on Sunday to be handed over to the Indian authorities so that they can return home.
The 20 fishermen, who hailed from the Indian state of Gujarat, had completed their jail terms.
The fishermen were arrested by the Pakistan Maritime Security Force (PMSF) and handed over to the dock police for illegally fishing in Pakistani waters.
Reporter Saud bin Murtaza