By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Islamabad and New Delhi on Friday swapped the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen languishing in the jails of both sides, under the provisions of the Agreement on Consular Access signed between the two countries in 2008.
Under the agreement, both India and Pakistan are required to exchange lists of prisoners twice a year, on January 1 and July 1.
According to the lists shared, there are 309 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 fishermen in the custody of Indian authorities, while 49 suspected Indian citizens and 633 fishermen are in Pakistan’s prisons.
Pakistan has called on the Indian government to release Pakistani nationals that have served their full sentences without any delay. The Indian government has also asked Pakistan to authenticate the nationality of 57 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose release is tied to the confirmation of their citizenship.
Last month, 20 Indian fishermen were freed from Malir District Jail, Karachi, and were handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border.
The Edhi Foundation paid the expenses of their travelling from Karachi to Lahore. The charity also provided clothes, food, and cash as well as some parting gifts. Most of these prisoners were rounded up for entering Pakistan’s maritime borders.
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