Amid demands to expedite the process to release and repatriate Indian fishermen languishing in a Pakistani jail, one of them, reportedly from Gujarat, died on January 16.
The announcement of the death of the Gujarati fisherman, whose sentence was over in 2022, was made by Jatin Desai — a peace activist and journalist who has been taking up the cause of the Indian fishermen languishing in the Pakistan jail — onSunday. He, however, did notreveal the name of the deceased person.
In a statement, Desai said, “The sentence of the deceased fisherman was over in 2022. Even, his nationality was verified. Section 5 of the Bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, 2008, says: Both Governments agree to release and repatriate persons within one month of confirmation of their national status and completion of sentences…But, it’s on paper. The deceased and most of the other fishermen who are in jail have completed their sentences long ago, and their nationality is also confirmed.”
Around 200 Indian fishermen are lodged in Pakistan’s Malir Jail in Karachi for allegedly foraying into the neighbouring country’s maritime waters and a majority of them are from Gujarat and the Union Territory of Diu, while 19 of them are from Maharashtra.
“Every year around 3-4 Indian fishermen die in Pakistan’s Malir Jail, Karachi…This is a serious issue. The family members of the fishermen who are in jail are worried about their health conditions. A few fishermen are not in good health in the Malir jail. They need better treatment. They are losing hope of returning, and that’s bad,” he said.
Desai demanded that India and Pakistan look into the issue of the arrested fishermen from a humanitarian perspective, as they cross the border inadvertently.
A delegation comprising women from the fisherfolk families had recently met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi to hand over a representation seeking to expedite the process for the release and repatriation of Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails.
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They have put forward six demands – release and repatriation of fishermen, urgent medical care and humanitarian return, revival of the Joint Judicial Committee on Prisoners that last met in October 2013, return of confiscated Indian fishing boats, and family distress support.
