ISLAMABAD: Interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso on Friday decided to release 51 imprisoned Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds as a gesture of goodwill, hoping that the Indian Government will reciprocate the gesture and release the Pakistani prisoners incarcerated in Indian jails.
These imprisoned Indian fishermen have already served their sentences.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting attended by Federal Minister for Law, Ahmer Bilal Sufi, Chief Minister Sindh Justice (R) Zahid Qurban Alvi and senior officials of the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Law and Justice and PM’s Secretariat.
The Prime Minister was informed that presently 482 Indian prisoners were in Pakistani jails whereas 496 Pakistanis were in Indian jails.
He was further informed that the government of Pakistan was awaiting the confirmation of national status of other Indian prisoners.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate dialogue with India for the release of Pakistani prisoners and return of Indian prisoners.
DND
