India sets free eight Pak nationals

ATTARI (AMRITSAR): The Indian Government in a goodwill gesture repatriated eight Pakistani prisoners through the land transit route of Indo-Pak border here today.

All the Pakistan prisoners crossed over to Pakistan on the basis of 'Emergency Travel Certificate' issued by the Pakistan High Commission based at New Delhi.

Among eight Pakistani prisoners, seven fishermen were released from Gujarat jail and one was from Jammu jail, officials posted at Attari border said.

Sikander, before repatriation to Pakistan was brought here from Jammu jail, said he had arrived in India through Jammu and Kashmir border inadvertently.

He was an electrician in Pakistan, now again on reaching home he would resume the same profession.

The seven fishermen were arrested along with their boats during illegal fishing in the territorial waters of Arabian Sea.

They said they had arrived in India through territorial waters inadvertently, since it was difficult during fishing in the Arabian Sea to remain stuck at one point.

Earlier last week on March 1, as many as 20 Pakistani prisoners were repatriated through the same route.