Syed Nazir Hussain, the superintendent of the Malir jail in Karachi, told PTI that the Indian prisoners were released on written directives of the interior and foreign ministries.

 

“Most of these prisoners are poor Indian fishermen who were arrested and brought here for trespassing into Pakistani territorial waters,” he said.

 

The freed prisoners were taken in an air-conditioned bus from Karachi to Wagah border in Lahore from where they will be handed over to Indian authorities.

 

Out of 151 fishermen who were held for alleged violation of international maritime boundary, 25 are from Diu, 10 are from Maharashtra, 1 from West Bengal, 5 are from Uttar Pradesh and 2 are from Dadra Nagar Haveli, rest of them are from Gujarat. Among them highest 58 are from Una in Junagadh district.

Last year in August, Pakistan had released around 337 Indian prisoners from jails. Later on Diwali also, 15 Indian fishermen were released as a goodwill gesture.

 

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