77 fishermen from Gujarat among 80 released from Pak jail
PFF, a national association of fishermen from Pakistan and Baloch, said that Edhi Foundation, an NGO based in Karachi has arranged for the released Indian fishermen’s train journey from Karachi to Lahore.
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As on July 1, there were 266 Indian fishermen lodged in Pakistani jail, while 68 Pakistani fishermen are languishing in various Indian jails. Of the 266 Indian fishermen, one fisherman each had died in August and October.
Pakistan has released 80 Indian fishermen, including 77 from Gujarat, from a Karachi jail and will hand over them to the Indian authorities at Wagah Border on Friday, Saeed Baloch, secretary general of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), stated in a Facebook post Thursday.
PFF, a national association of fishermen from Pakistan and Baloch, said that Edhi Foundation, an NGO based in Karachi has arranged for the released Indian fishermen’s train journey from Karachi to Lahore.
According to a list issued by Pakistan, of the 77 Gujarati fishermen, 59 are from Gir Somnath district, 15 from Devbhumi Dwarka, two from Amreli and one from Jamnagar. Three fishermen are from the Union Territory of Diu that is located off the Gir Somnath coast.
The 80 fishermen were apprehended and later arrested by Pakistan Marine Security Agency (PMSA) while fishing aboard 13 different fishing trawlers arrested between September and November 2020.
“The fishermen were released from Landi jail in Karachi around 11 am and were to board a train from Karachi to Lahore in the evening. After overnight train journey, they are expected to reach Lahore Friday morning. From Lahore, they are to be taken to the Wagah Border crossing on board buses and be handed over to the India authorities,” Jatin Desai, former general secretary of the Indian chapter of Pakistan India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), told The Indian Express.
Welcoming the news, Balu Socha, president of Samudra Shramik Sangh (SSS), a non-government organisation (NGO) based out of Kodinar town of Gir Somnath and working for the welfare of fishermen, said, “We hope that the Gujarat government makes arrangements for these fishermen to reach from Wagah Border to their homes in time for Diwali celebrations on Sunday.”
A senior officer of the fisheries department of Gujarat said a team of officers would receive the fishermen in Amritsar. “We expect the fishermen to reach Amritsar in Punjab on Friday. Once we receive them, we will book a special coach if it is available or train tickets for these fishermen to help them board a train from Amritsar Saturday and reach Vadodara Sunday. From Vadodara, the fishermen will be taken to Veraval in Gir Somnath aboard luxury buses,” said the officer.
As on July 1, there were 266 Indian fishermen lodged in Pakistani jail, while 68 Pakistani fishermen are languishing in various Indian jails. Of the 266 Indian fishermen, one fisherman each had died in August and October.
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