59 Pakistani fishermen repatriated

Wagah, May 29 (UNI) India today repatriated 59 Pakistani fishermen who had served their period of jail sentence to their country through this joint border check post (JBC).

The fishermen, who were brought here from Jamnagar prison in Gujarat, were handed over to the Pakistani authorities by Indian officals after completing all the 'legal' formalities.

Border Security Force (BSF) Assistant Commandant B S Rana signed the repatriation papers on behalf of the Indian side while Major Faiz Hamid signed on behalf of the Pakistan Rangers.

The fishermen, who were elated at going home, were those who had been taken into custody by the Indian Coast Guard between 2004-06, when they strayed into Indian waters off the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea. The eldest in the batch was 80-year old Nathu while the youngest was 12-year old Nawaz followed by 15-year old Mohammed Akhtar.

Pakistan was to repatriate 71 fishermen to India today but due to certain 'technical' reasons their return home was delayed by a day.

They will now be handed over to the Indian authorities tomorrow.

According to BSF sources, the repatriation papers of some of the Indian fishermen had not yet reached the Pakistan Rangers at the check post. Without these papers clearance cannot be given by the Rangers.

Though the Pakistani fishermen returning home were overjoyed but all of them are worried as they would have to begin their business from scratch. Their source of livelihood, that is their boats and nets were seized by the Indian Coast Guard when they were nabbed in Indian waters.

UNI XC-HS RP DS1623