15 Indian fishermen released from Pakistan jail

Fifteen Indian fishermen were freed from the district Malir jail in Karachi on Sunday by Pakistan as a goodwill gesture and will be repatriated to India via the Wagah border on Monday on the eve of Diwali.

The fishermen were released from the jail on Sunday morning, officials of the Indian High Commission said.

They travelled in a bus to Lahore, from where they will be sent to Wagah to be handed over to Indian authorities.

The fishermen were arrested on charges of violating Pakistan's maritime boundary and cases were registered against them under the Foreigners Act and Fisheries Act.

Some of them had completed their prison terms months ago.

Leading rights activist Ansar Burney said the expenses for repatriating the fishermen will be borne by his trust.

The fishermen were identified as Lakha Deva Bhaliya, Misri Solanki, Parkash Solanki, Karo Govind Vaja, Sunjay Jeeva Saraniya, Jeeva Badiya, Bhika Bamaniya, Amrit Lal Bamaniya, Vijay Lakshman Solanki, Jitendra Kumar Vans Jethwa, Kalu Ram Vala, Chunnilal Krishan Bamaniya, Babu Bhika Bamaniya, Mansukh Solanki and Premji Rama Jethwa.

"They will be handed over to Indian security forces tomorrow. The order to release them came this week from the Interior ministry and is a goodwill gesture," Malir jail superintendent, Nazir Shah said.

He said so far 693 Indian fishermen had been released from his jail.