India releases 38 Pakistan civil prisoners

Wagah, June 30: India today repatriated 38 Pakistani civilian prisoners, while Pakistan released 19 Indian detenues at this border checkpost.

The Pakistani prisoners released have all completed their sentences and their nationality has been verified by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Likewise the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has verified the identity of the Indian prisoners.

The release of prisoners is in pursuance of the understanding reached between India and Pakistan during the recent Home Secretary-level talks.

The maximum number of Pak-prisoners released are from Punjab, totalling 16, followed by Jammu and Kashmir with 15. Four are from Rajasthan, and one each Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.

The repatriation exercise was supervised by Border Security Force (BSF) Assistant Commandant A K Badria and Major Faiz Haider of the Pakistan Rangers. Amritsar Sub-Divsional Magistrate (SDM) Gurwaryam Singh was also present.

The released Indian prisoners will be medically examined before being allowed to go home. Among the Indians repatriated, eight are from Punjab.

UNI