ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: As a goodwill gesture, the Pakistani authorities on Friday released 36 Indian prisoners including one civilian and 35 fishermen.
The prisoners were released from Karachi’s District Prison Malir, and will be repatriated to India through the Wagah Border in Lahore.
As many as 419 Indian fishermen are currently being held in Karachi’s District Prison Malir while approximately 400 Pakistani fishermen are currently being held in Indian prisons, according to the Fishermen Cooperative Society.
A total of 191 Indian prisoners including six civil prisoners and 185 fishermen have been released by Pakistan during the current year, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“Pakistan has always held that the issue of prisoners between the two countries is a humanitarian one and should be taken in that spirit,” the Foreign Office said.
“It is our hope that the government of India would release all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences,” it added.
