NEW DELHI, January 07: It's a New Year gift of sorts for Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails. Pakistan will release 180 Indian prisoners - 179 fishermen and a civilian - on Saturday morning.
After release, they will travel from Karachi to Lahore. On Sunday, they will be "repatriated through the Wagah Border, Lahore," said an official letter from the Sindh government, a copy of which is with the TOI. India's foreign ministry sources confirmed the development. Once the fishermen cross the border, they will be taken to Gujarat. "Even after the release of these prisoners, 276 other fisherfolk will remain in Pakistani jails. Of these, 83 have already served their sentence but cannot be released because their nationality has not yet been confirmed by Indian authorities," said Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, a retired Pakistan Supreme Court judge and current chairman of Pakistani government's Committee for Welfare of Prisoners.
Those working with fishermen rue that the fishermen would be released without their boats. Around 481 Indian fishing boats are rotting in Pakistan waters. "Each boat costs around 30-40 lakh Indian rupees. Many of the fishermen are very poor and an entire fishing village chips in to buy a boat," Zahid told TOI over phone from Karachi.
He blamed both India and Pakistan for the inordinate delay in releasing innocent fishermen who inadvertently cross national borders while fishing. "These fishermen are usually given a six-month to a year's jail sentence. By the time they are sentenced, they have already served the term," said Zahid.
Once they are ready for release, there is a lengthy and tedious process to verify their nationality which, said Zahid, takes six months to a year. "The process of verifying a fisherman's nationality should begin the moment he is arrested, either by India or Pakistan. So the process is complete at the time of his release and he does not remain in jail after serving his sentence," said Jatin Desai, joint secretary, Pakistan India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy. A year ago, India released 121 Pakistani fishermen and 97 civilians, said an official of India's external affairs ministry (MEA). Currently, there are 29 Pakistani fishermen in Indian prisons.
"Even if both countries release all the captive fisherfolk, others will continue to be arrested," said Zahid. There should be a joint committee of officials from India and Pakistan on board a ship between the two countries. They can decide cases of fishermen accidentally straying across the border. "The matter can be settled in the sea itself," he said. "A year ago, India's home secretary and Pakistan's interior secretary decided to set up a task force with two members each from Pakistan and India. Pakistan has already nominated its members but India is yet to do so," said Desai.
MEA officials, however, said that neither India nor Pakistan wants to detain fishermen from the other country. "Once they cross the border, the legal process begins. The process of verifying nationalities involves visiting a fisherman's village to confirm his identity. Often the addresses given are incomplete or very remote. It may take a long time to get there,'' said an MEA official. It is difficult for fishermen to figure out when they have crossed their country's waters, especially since they do not have sophisticated navigation systems. "The International Maritime Border is not well-defined between India and Pakistan," said the official.
LIST OF INDIAN FISHERMEN
1. Parbudass s/o Karishan
2. Ram Sinsh s/o Samat
3. Manden s/o Naja
4. Mahaish s/o Babu
5. Devji s/o Soma Bhai
6. Jagdaish s/o Daya
7. Ramesh s/o Wailiee
8. Parkash s/o Ramiee
9. Kamless s/o Rama
10. Mayon s/o Bacho Bhai
11. Bacho s/o Baboo
12. Bharat s/o Aato
13. Ramesh s/o Bhema
14. Harkishar s/o Ram Jee
15. Sarmand s/o Ram Jee
16. Kaloo s/o Rahoo
17. Hari s/o Jesu
18. Hense Mukh s/o Kanjee
19. Kawana Bekha s/o Haresh
20. Lal Jee s/o Aacha
21. Je Singh s/o Jadu
22. Jadesh Kheta s/o Bhai
23. Kano s/o Dehero Bhai
24. Dhero s/o Natha
25. Bhopat s/o Bala
26. Bhagwan s/o Ghabri
27. Naresh s/o Kaloo
28. Jago Bhai s/o Jesa Bhai
29. Baboo s/o Jetha
30. Ashwan s/o Oka Bhai
31. Bhopat s/o Ram Jaee
32. Paronarti s/o Arjun
33. Jentra Bhai s/o Dana Bhi
34. Bharat s/o Jeo
35. Parbat s/o Jagesh
36. Ashoke s/o Petha Bhai
37. Remesh s/o Jeena Bhai
38. Ganda Bhai s/o Arjun
39. Deepak s/o Kana
40. Mano s/o Devsi
41. Oka Bhai s/o Roda
42. Aipa Bhi s/o Jen Bhi
43. Man Singh s/o Rana
44. Rano s/o Natha
45. Bhagan s/o Lakha
46. Nanoo s/o Khambha Bhai
47. Bhekha Bhai s/o Govanda
48. Bhagwan s/o Lakman
49. Lal Jee s/o Sham Jee
50. Vigoo s/o Lakhman
51. Himat s/o Bhima
52. Ram Bhai s/o Kirshan Bhai
53. Veeza Bhai s/o Lumba Bhai
54. Hari s/o Oka
55. Bhagwan s/o Lakhman
56. Sihtal s/o Megha
57. Pancha s/o Jadool
58. Misri s/o Oka
59. Dhero s/o Megha
60. Dinesh s/o Baghwan
61. Parbat s/o Ram Jee
62. Shanty Lal s/o Soma
63. Gaila s/o Jagga
64. Jeeva s/o Bhana
65. Jaitan s/o Lakhman
66. Govind s/o Kana
67. Dava s/o Naran
68. Ram s/o Nanoo
69. Bheeka s/o Sewa
70. Mukesh s/o Baboo
71. Parsoo Ram s/o Oka
72. Dhreeroo s/o Bachoo
73. Ramesh s/o Nan Jee
74. Danoo s/o Arjun
75. Baloo s/o Pala
76. Jadeve s/o Baboo
77. Manoo s/o Bhika
78. Bhakoo s/o Bachoo
79. Poona s/o Sadir
80. Samat s/o Naja
81. Bhaya s/o Aujun
82. Man Sinsh s/o Bala
83. Bhoopat s/o Ganda
84. Gomind s/o Bora
85. Lakhman s/o Arjun
86. Ramoo s/o Misri
87. Bharat s/o Naran
88. Ramesh s/o Nanoo
89. Dheeroo s/o Raja
90. Karo s/o Lakhman
91. Gulloo s/o Varjan
92. Manoo s/o Parbat
93. Ram Bhai s/o Lakhman
94. Kam Les s/o Ram Jee
95. Ramesh s/o Bhagwan
96. Okara s/o Poonja
97. Karo s/o Davesi
98. Deepak s/o Sagan
99. Mahesh s/o Karman
100. Kishan s/o Naran
101. Ramoo Kirshan s/o Kirshan
102. Arshi s/o Ram Bhai
103. Arshi s/o Bhaya
104. Ramesh s/o Kirshan
105. Raia s/o Jeeva
106. Manou s/o Bachoo
107. Jitesh s/o Soma
108. Mahindar s/o Lakshman
109. Jais s/o Magji
110. Kamlais s/o Kana Bhai
111. Deva Bhai s/o Kaia Bhai
112. Bhagwan s/o Babloo
113. Amrat s/o Jania
114. Sonu s/o Chaitta
115. Vijay s/o Lakhman
l16. Rajesh s/o Jeeva
117. Lal Jee s/o Raja
118. Jais s/o Ram Jee
119. Youresh s/o Dhan Jee
120. Jitindar s/o Lakhman
12l. Sutum s/o Aapiya
122. Ganesh s/o Ravva
123. Parkash s/o Bala Rarn
124. Nanoo s/o Misri Bhai
125. Wallgee s/o Cheena
126. Naran s/o Mandan
127. Oka Bhai s/o Lakhman
128. Jagdesh s/o Lakhman
129. Bharat s/o Rama
130. Nano s/o Raja
131. Bhalo s/o Naga Bahai
132. Hussain Mian s/o Akbar Ali
133. Kana s/o Govind
134. Basher s/o Hussain
l35. Vengiste Dengan s/o Jineran
136. Mala s/o Ramsi
137. Mohan s/o Lakhman
138. Allah Rakha s/o Hussain
139. Anwar s/o Hussain
140. Bahadur Khan s/o Mohammad Khan
141. Beejal s/o Krishan
142. Janti s/o Mgji
143. Dinesh s/o Shankar
144. Hanif Khan s/o Muhammad Khan
145. Sham Jee s/o Kirshan
146. Arjun s/o Bhagwan
147. Natha Bhai s/o Nadoo
148. Ram Jee Bhai s/o Rana Bhai
149. Oka Bhai s/o Natho
150. Veliee s/o Kirshan
151. Kana s/o Sado
152. Nanoo s/o Jessa
153. Bhopat s/o Bhagwan
154. Beejal s/o Kara Bhai
155. Beejal s/o Devsi
156. Baloo s/o Biso Bhai
157. Jagdesh s/o Khemjee
158. Chetan s/o Panjee
159. Rora s/o Behna
160. Devgan s/o Poja
161. Sono Dolo s/o Dolo Bhana
162. Hera Bhai s/o Lakhman
163. Sameer s/o Arjun
164. Jenti s/o Veru
165. Veru s/o Raja
166. Jetoo s/o Ram
167. Bheeka s/o Naran
168. Kirshan s/o pala
169. Babo s/o Pala
170. Arjunun s/o Ram
171. Bhana s/o Naran
172. Bharat s/o Bhora Bhai
173. Dheero s/o Kirshan
174. Rajooo s/o Mehra Man
175. Meero s/o Pala
176. Dheero s/o Ariun
177. Daya s/o Naran
178. Deepak s/o Naran
179. Warja s/o Rana
CIVIL PRISONER (INDIAN NATIONAL)
180. Sama Jusab @ Yousuf s/o Sadhak
After release, they will travel from Karachi to Lahore. On Sunday, they will be "repatriated through the Wagah Border, Lahore," said an official letter from the Sindh government, a copy of which is with the TOI. India's foreign ministry sources confirmed the development. Once the fishermen cross the border, they will be taken to Gujarat. "Even after the release of these prisoners, 276 other fisherfolk will remain in Pakistani jails. Of these, 83 have already served their sentence but cannot be released because their nationality has not yet been confirmed by Indian authorities," said Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, a retired Pakistan Supreme Court judge and current chairman of Pakistani government's Committee for Welfare of Prisoners.
Those working with fishermen rue that the fishermen would be released without their boats. Around 481 Indian fishing boats are rotting in Pakistan waters. "Each boat costs around 30-40 lakh Indian rupees. Many of the fishermen are very poor and an entire fishing village chips in to buy a boat," Zahid told TOI over phone from Karachi.
He blamed both India and Pakistan for the inordinate delay in releasing innocent fishermen who inadvertently cross national borders while fishing. "These fishermen are usually given a six-month to a year's jail sentence. By the time they are sentenced, they have already served the term," said Zahid.
Once they are ready for release, there is a lengthy and tedious process to verify their nationality which, said Zahid, takes six months to a year. "The process of verifying a fisherman's nationality should begin the moment he is arrested, either by India or Pakistan. So the process is complete at the time of his release and he does not remain in jail after serving his sentence," said Jatin Desai, joint secretary, Pakistan India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy. A year ago, India released 121 Pakistani fishermen and 97 civilians, said an official of India's external affairs ministry (MEA). Currently, there are 29 Pakistani fishermen in Indian prisons.
"Even if both countries release all the captive fisherfolk, others will continue to be arrested," said Zahid. There should be a joint committee of officials from India and Pakistan on board a ship between the two countries. They can decide cases of fishermen accidentally straying across the border. "The matter can be settled in the sea itself," he said. "A year ago, India's home secretary and Pakistan's interior secretary decided to set up a task force with two members each from Pakistan and India. Pakistan has already nominated its members but India is yet to do so," said Desai.
MEA officials, however, said that neither India nor Pakistan wants to detain fishermen from the other country. "Once they cross the border, the legal process begins. The process of verifying nationalities involves visiting a fisherman's village to confirm his identity. Often the addresses given are incomplete or very remote. It may take a long time to get there,'' said an MEA official. It is difficult for fishermen to figure out when they have crossed their country's waters, especially since they do not have sophisticated navigation systems. "The International Maritime Border is not well-defined between India and Pakistan," said the official.
LIST OF INDIAN FISHERMEN
1. Parbudass s/o Karishan
2. Ram Sinsh s/o Samat
3. Manden s/o Naja
4. Mahaish s/o Babu
5. Devji s/o Soma Bhai
6. Jagdaish s/o Daya
7. Ramesh s/o Wailiee
8. Parkash s/o Ramiee
9. Kamless s/o Rama
10. Mayon s/o Bacho Bhai
11. Bacho s/o Baboo
12. Bharat s/o Aato
13. Ramesh s/o Bhema
14. Harkishar s/o Ram Jee
15. Sarmand s/o Ram Jee
16. Kaloo s/o Rahoo
17. Hari s/o Jesu
18. Hense Mukh s/o Kanjee
19. Kawana Bekha s/o Haresh
20. Lal Jee s/o Aacha
21. Je Singh s/o Jadu
22. Jadesh Kheta s/o Bhai
23. Kano s/o Dehero Bhai
24. Dhero s/o Natha
25. Bhopat s/o Bala
26. Bhagwan s/o Ghabri
27. Naresh s/o Kaloo
28. Jago Bhai s/o Jesa Bhai
29. Baboo s/o Jetha
30. Ashwan s/o Oka Bhai
31. Bhopat s/o Ram Jaee
32. Paronarti s/o Arjun
33. Jentra Bhai s/o Dana Bhi
34. Bharat s/o Jeo
35. Parbat s/o Jagesh
36. Ashoke s/o Petha Bhai
37. Remesh s/o Jeena Bhai
38. Ganda Bhai s/o Arjun
39. Deepak s/o Kana
40. Mano s/o Devsi
41. Oka Bhai s/o Roda
42. Aipa Bhi s/o Jen Bhi
43. Man Singh s/o Rana
44. Rano s/o Natha
45. Bhagan s/o Lakha
46. Nanoo s/o Khambha Bhai
47. Bhekha Bhai s/o Govanda
48. Bhagwan s/o Lakman
49. Lal Jee s/o Sham Jee
50. Vigoo s/o Lakhman
51. Himat s/o Bhima
52. Ram Bhai s/o Kirshan Bhai
53. Veeza Bhai s/o Lumba Bhai
54. Hari s/o Oka
55. Bhagwan s/o Lakhman
56. Sihtal s/o Megha
57. Pancha s/o Jadool
58. Misri s/o Oka
59. Dhero s/o Megha
60. Dinesh s/o Baghwan
61. Parbat s/o Ram Jee
62. Shanty Lal s/o Soma
63. Gaila s/o Jagga
64. Jeeva s/o Bhana
65. Jaitan s/o Lakhman
66. Govind s/o Kana
67. Dava s/o Naran
68. Ram s/o Nanoo
69. Bheeka s/o Sewa
70. Mukesh s/o Baboo
71. Parsoo Ram s/o Oka
72. Dhreeroo s/o Bachoo
73. Ramesh s/o Nan Jee
74. Danoo s/o Arjun
75. Baloo s/o Pala
76. Jadeve s/o Baboo
77. Manoo s/o Bhika
78. Bhakoo s/o Bachoo
79. Poona s/o Sadir
80. Samat s/o Naja
81. Bhaya s/o Aujun
82. Man Sinsh s/o Bala
83. Bhoopat s/o Ganda
84. Gomind s/o Bora
85. Lakhman s/o Arjun
86. Ramoo s/o Misri
87. Bharat s/o Naran
88. Ramesh s/o Nanoo
89. Dheeroo s/o Raja
90. Karo s/o Lakhman
91. Gulloo s/o Varjan
92. Manoo s/o Parbat
93. Ram Bhai s/o Lakhman
94. Kam Les s/o Ram Jee
95. Ramesh s/o Bhagwan
96. Okara s/o Poonja
97. Karo s/o Davesi
98. Deepak s/o Sagan
99. Mahesh s/o Karman
100. Kishan s/o Naran
101. Ramoo Kirshan s/o Kirshan
102. Arshi s/o Ram Bhai
103. Arshi s/o Bhaya
104. Ramesh s/o Kirshan
105. Raia s/o Jeeva
106. Manou s/o Bachoo
107. Jitesh s/o Soma
108. Mahindar s/o Lakshman
109. Jais s/o Magji
110. Kamlais s/o Kana Bhai
111. Deva Bhai s/o Kaia Bhai
112. Bhagwan s/o Babloo
113. Amrat s/o Jania
114. Sonu s/o Chaitta
115. Vijay s/o Lakhman
l16. Rajesh s/o Jeeva
117. Lal Jee s/o Raja
118. Jais s/o Ram Jee
119. Youresh s/o Dhan Jee
120. Jitindar s/o Lakhman
12l. Sutum s/o Aapiya
122. Ganesh s/o Ravva
123. Parkash s/o Bala Rarn
124. Nanoo s/o Misri Bhai
125. Wallgee s/o Cheena
126. Naran s/o Mandan
127. Oka Bhai s/o Lakhman
128. Jagdesh s/o Lakhman
129. Bharat s/o Rama
130. Nano s/o Raja
131. Bhalo s/o Naga Bahai
132. Hussain Mian s/o Akbar Ali
133. Kana s/o Govind
134. Basher s/o Hussain
l35. Vengiste Dengan s/o Jineran
136. Mala s/o Ramsi
137. Mohan s/o Lakhman
138. Allah Rakha s/o Hussain
139. Anwar s/o Hussain
140. Bahadur Khan s/o Mohammad Khan
141. Beejal s/o Krishan
142. Janti s/o Mgji
143. Dinesh s/o Shankar
144. Hanif Khan s/o Muhammad Khan
145. Sham Jee s/o Kirshan
146. Arjun s/o Bhagwan
147. Natha Bhai s/o Nadoo
148. Ram Jee Bhai s/o Rana Bhai
149. Oka Bhai s/o Natho
150. Veliee s/o Kirshan
151. Kana s/o Sado
152. Nanoo s/o Jessa
153. Bhopat s/o Bhagwan
154. Beejal s/o Kara Bhai
155. Beejal s/o Devsi
156. Baloo s/o Biso Bhai
157. Jagdesh s/o Khemjee
158. Chetan s/o Panjee
159. Rora s/o Behna
160. Devgan s/o Poja
161. Sono Dolo s/o Dolo Bhana
162. Hera Bhai s/o Lakhman
163. Sameer s/o Arjun
164. Jenti s/o Veru
165. Veru s/o Raja
166. Jetoo s/o Ram
167. Bheeka s/o Naran
168. Kirshan s/o pala
169. Babo s/o Pala
170. Arjunun s/o Ram
171. Bhana s/o Naran
172. Bharat s/o Bhora Bhai
173. Dheero s/o Kirshan
174. Rajooo s/o Mehra Man
175. Meero s/o Pala
176. Dheero s/o Ariun
177. Daya s/o Naran
178. Deepak s/o Naran
179. Warja s/o Rana
CIVIL PRISONER (INDIAN NATIONAL)
180. Sama Jusab @ Yousuf s/o Sadhak