Free 198 Fishermen: India, Pak urged to act by Aug 15

Ahmedabad: Families of Indian fishermen jailed in Pakistan, along with fishermen’s organisations, have urged India and Pakistan to release and repatriate all those who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been verified, preferably by August 15.

The appeal was made in a joint letter dated August 8 by the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and families of imprisoned fisherpeople.

According to the organisations, 198 Indian fisherpeople remain imprisoned in Pakistan, while 53 Pakistani fisherpeople are in Indian jails. Of the Indians held in Pakistan, 10 completed their sentences in July 2021, 115 in March 2022, 21 in November 2022, 10 in January 2023 and 22 in July 2024. Their nationality has already been verified.

Journalist Jatin Desai, who has worked on the issue for nearly two decades, said there should be no technical obstacle to their repatriation. Under the 2008 India-Pakistan Agreement on Consular Access, both governments are required to release and repatriate prisoners within one month of confirmation of nationality and completion of sentence.

Desai said delays in consular access and nationality verification prolong detention unnecessarily. He suggested setting a maximum three-month period for nationality verification.

The organisations described the prolonged imprisonment of fishermen as a humanitarian crisis, noting that many are poor workers who inadvertently cross the maritime boundary while fishing. They called for a “No Arrest Policy” for fishermen who cross the boundary unintentionally.

Families said prolonged detention has caused severe financial and emotional hardship.

Bhavna Solanki of Gujarat said her husband, Mahesh Solanki, has been jailed in Pakistan since 2021, leaving her to raise two children and support a bedridden father-in-law through daily-wage work.

The organisations also highlighted deaths of Indian fishermen in Pakistani custody and urged both governments to implement the 2008 agreement “in letter and spirit”, fix accountability for delays and establish mechanisms to prevent prolonged detention.