Nine more Pak prisoners released from Indian jails

India on Friday released nine Pakistani prisoners, including five fishermen, the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement on Friday. India has on May 30 already released 37 Pakistani prisoners (5 civil & 32 fishermen).

There are currently 477 Pakistani prisoners (346 civil and 131 fishermen) still lodged in Indian jails. Of these, 22 civil prisoners have completed their sentences and await repatriation.

On May 26, as a goodwill gesture, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had directed that 151 Indian prisoners (1 civil and 150 fishermen) be released. Presently, 296 Indians are detained in Pakistan, including 47 civil and 249 fishermen.

“Pakistan has always held that the issue of prisoners in our countries is a humanitarian one and should be taken in that spirit,” the Pakistan High Commission said.