Indian, Pakistan fishermen want their mates released

Though official Indo-Pak talks are stalled, fishermen from both countries have joined forces to demand the release of their brethren detained on either sides. Together more than 700 Indian and Pakistani fishermen have been languishing in jails in both countries for a long time, and the fishermen have threatened legal action in the respective supreme courts if they are not released by this month end.

The decision was taken in a joint meeting of fishermen's organisations in India and Pakistan organised last month in Delhi with top civil society organisations. “We have already sent identical letters to the prime ministers of two countries urging them to immediately release around 460 imprisoned fishermen of both the countries who have completed their sentences. The supreme court of India in its recent judgement has ordered release of 17 Pakistani prisoners who have completed their jail terms,''
Mumbai-based noted activist Jatin Desai of Peace India, told DNA in an interview.

“We have clearly told the two governments that if the fishermen are not released by end of May, then two separate petitions will be filed in the supreme courts of Pakistan and India. The Indian petition would be handled by retired justice Rajender Sachar, while Pakistanis' case would  be co-ordinated by former Pakistani attorney-general Iqbal Haider.”

He, however, said that the demand was not a new one. “This has, in fact, been recommended by a joint judicial committee on prisoners which has four retired judges of high courts and supreme court from both Pakistan and India.

The committee set up in January 2007 has recommended release of Indian and Pakistani fishermen in custody. But neither of the government is implementing it,” Desai said, adding that “therefore we have this time told the prime ministers of both the countries to give clear and unambiguous orders to their concerned departments for release of the prisoners.”

Raising the same demand, Porbandar-based president of Indian Boat Owners Association, Jivabhai Jungi, said since their and their counterparts' demands had fallen on deaf ears, this legal course had been decided by the two organisations. He said there were 541 Indian fishermen, almost all from Saurashtra-Kutch coast, in Pakistani jails with their 444 boats in illegal possession of Pakistan. Similarly, 69 Pakistani boats were in the custody of India along with 168 Pakistani fishermen.