457 Indian prisoners lodged in Pakistan jails: Foreign Officials
As per a list that the Pakistan government has handed over to the Indian High Commission on Monday, a total of 457 Indian prisoners are in various Pakistani Jails. These include 399 fishermen too.
The Foreign Office said that the step of giving the list of prisoners was consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on May 21, 2008.
On January 1 and July 1, both the countries exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody as per the agreement.
"Pakistan today handed over a list of 457 Indian prisoners—58 civil prisoners and 399 fishermen—in Pakistan, to the High Commission of India in Islamabad," it said.
It further said that Pakistan would release 146 fishermen on January 8.
The Foreign Office said the India would also hand over the list of Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Fishermen from Pakistan and India are frequently detained for illegally fishing in each other's territorial waters since the Arabian Sea does not have a clearly defined marine border and the wooden boats lack the technology to avoid being drifting away.
-PTC News
