Nathwani welcomes release of fishermen from Pakistan jail

VADODARA: Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani today welcomed the release of 40 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen from a Pakistan jail.

As many as 36 fishermen (most of them belong to Gujarat) were released from Karachi Malir Jail a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif warmly shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the 18th SAARC Summit in Nepal.

Speaking to PTI, Nathwani, a native of Gujarat described the release as a goodwill gesture and said that it will help in normalisation of relations between Pakistan and India.

Veljibhai Masani, senior vice president of the Gujarat Fishermen Association (Akhil Gujarat Machhimar Mahamandal) also hailed the decision and said the families of these released fishermen are waiting to reunite with their loved ones after they were captured by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency over illegal fishing in Pakistan's territorial waters.

These 36 fishermen belong to villages of Una Taluka in Junagadh, Navsari and Valsad districts in Gujarat besides Thane district in Maharashtra and Union territory of Diu, he said.

Meanwhile a team of officials from the Fisheries Department of Gujarat government accompanied by a police team today left for Wagah border for taking the custody of these fishermen, P L Darbar, Fisheries Commissioner of Gujarat said.

The fishermen are expected to reach Wagah after two days.