KARACHI - Sindh government on Saturday issued orders for release and repatriation of 442 Indian fishermen, including two minors, to their country.

They have been under detention in four Jails of the province at District Jail Malir, Karachi Nara Jail Hyderabad, District Jail Badin and District Jail Naushehro Feroz.

According to Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and Pakistan Institute Labour Education and Research (PILER), the home department of Sindh government released 442 Indian Fisherman, including two minors.

The provincial Home Department issued the notification No SO (PPT) HD/01-09/09, dated 28^th August 2010 and ordered repatriation of these Indian Fisherman.

A copy of the notification was received by former Attorney General and Federal Minister for Human Rights, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs whereas, Senator (R) Iqbal Haider and jail authorities have confirmed it.

The initiative has been taken after hearing of the constitutional petition filed in the Supreme Court by Piler and PFF, challenging the detention as well as arrest and prosecution of 582 Indian fishermen in various jails of Sindh.

Sayed Iqbal Haider, senior advocate of the Supreme Court had been pursuing and arguing this petition in the Supreme Court.

The release and repatriation of the first batch of the detained Indian Fisherman will commence from 30^th August 2010 Malir Jail at about 8:00 AM, for transfer to Wagah border, Lahore. Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, Member of the Pak-India Joint Judicial Commission, Senator (R) Iqbal Haider, Senior Advocate of the Petitioners, as well as Chairman PFF Mohammad Ali Shah and PILER team will bid farewell to the detained Indian fishermen at the Malir Prison at 8:00 AM.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of PILER Karamat Ali and PFF Chairman Mohammad Ali Shah has congratulated all the released Indian fishermen. Besides, peace activists of both sides have hoped that India would reciprocate this gesture of goodwill by releasing over 150 Pakistani fishermen.

They also reiterated their demand that arrest of the fishermen by both Indian and Pakistani maritime security agencies and Navies near Sir Creek in must be stopped forthwith and a mechanism should be evolved so that in case of violation of un-demarcated borders in Arabian sea by fishermen, they should be released after giving them warnings.

Saeed Baloch