ISLAMABAD – The Government of Pakistan on Monday handed over a list of 457 Indian prisoners languishing in its jails to the High Commission of India in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Of these prisoners, 58 of are civilians and 399 fishermen who had been arrested for violating Pakistani waters.
According to the statement, “This step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July, respectively”.
The foreign office further announced that Pakistan will release 146 fishermen on January 8, 2018 on humanitarian grounds.
However, the Indian government will also hand over the list of Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, it is likely that Indian authorities will return a 12-year-old Pakistani boy to Pakistani authorities at Wagah border crossing today (Monday).
The boy with hearing and speech disabilities was arrested by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) for illegally entering India on May 17, 2.017.
