16 Indian fishermen held in Pakistan

Islamabad, Feb 14 (PTI) Pakistani authorities arrested16 Indian fishermen and seized three boats on charges ofillegally fishing in the country''s waters today.

The fishermen were arrested in Pakistan''s exclusiveeconomic zone, the Maritime Security Agency said in astatement.

Four of the fishermen were "apprehended for the secondtime", the statement said.

Pakistan and India arrest dozens of fishermen everyyear for violating the maritime boundary.

Many of them languish in prison for years even aftercompleting jail terms given to them.

Islamabad recently repatriated 12 Indian prisoners,including 11 fishermen who had been held in a jail in Karachifor nearly three years even after completing their prisonterms.

Another 442 Indian fishermen were freed last yearafter two Pakistani NGOs petitioned the Supreme Court fortheir release.