Pakistan release over 300 Indian fishermen who alleged crossed into Pakistani waters

(23 Aug 2013) Pakistani authorities released 337 Indian fishermen held captive in Karachi jails on Friday according to a senior official.
Of those, 330 were released from Malir Jail in Karachi and seven from Central Jail Karachi, one official said.
The freed prisoners boarded buses to travel to the eastern city of Lahore and were due to be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagha border post on Saturday.
The move came a day after the Pakistan Interior Ministry announced plans to release 365 Indian prisoners as a gesture of goodwill, according agency reports.
The prisoners were said to include 340 fishermen and 25 crew members of their boats.
Indian and Pakistani fishermen are routinely arrested for straying across each others border whilst going about their work.
One of those released from Malir Jail on Friday, fisherman Mohammad Rafique, a 29-year-old father of four, said he had been imprisoned for more than six months after being arrested for "fishing very close to Pakistani territorial waters".
"There are no lines, signs or signals for borders which cross the water. As a result we drift from one side to the other. Indian Coast Guards and Pakistan Navy should question us on the spot and should pardon and release us after issuing a warning," he said.
Senior official at Malir Jail Shujaa Haider Mirza said there were a further 97 Indian prisoners in Karachi jails.
The release comes at a time of increased tension between the two nuclear rivals over shelling across the border along the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region.

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