Islamabad: At least 135 Pakistani fishermen are currently detained in Indian jails, the country’s Foreign Office said in its report to the Supreme Court.
The report was shared with the top court in compliance with an October 2016 decree, requesting the Foreign Office for a fresh report cataloguing the number of fishermen, who are languishing in Indian jails.
The top court is adjudicating a constitutional petition filed by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), through their counsel Advocate Raheel Kamran Sheikh regarding the repatriation of detained Pakistani fishermen. The petitioners contended that pollution was gradually lowering water levels and with the entry of bigger companies and foreign fishing vessels, fishermen had to venture into deeper water for a better catch.
The petitioner requested that steps should be taken to obtain information about the presence of Pakistani fishermen in Indian jails, details of charges against the prisoners, and court judgments on the sentences.
