Gilani orders release of 100 Indian fishermen

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced on Tuesday that Pakistan would unilaterally release 100 Indian fishermen. The prime minister has instructed the Interior Ministry to make necessary arrangements for their repatriation to India, which would take place on December 24. Revival of Judicial Committee: Pakistan has also proposed to India the revival of the Judicial Committee on Prisoners to resolve the issue of prisoners andfishermen in each other’s custody. Jails Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mumtaz Burney confirmed the impending release of 100 Indian fishermen saying that the decision was made by the government of Pakistan as a goodwill gesture. “All these fishermen were arrested by Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (MSA) for fishing illegally inside the exclusive economic zone of Pakistan despite being cautioned repeatedly to abide by maritime limits, but they continued the violation by exploring Pakistani fisheries resource at the mouth of Indus Delta,” the DIG said. staff report