Ahmedabad: Ahead of the Independence Day, the family members of Gujarat-based fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails have appealed to the governments for the immediate release and repatriation of those who have completed their sentences. Organisations National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) and the fishermen’s families have made this appeal in the letters written to the prime ministers of both India and Pakistan.
At present, 198 Indian fishermen are imprisoned in Pakistan after allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing.
“In view of the approaching Independence Days of the respective countries, the organisations and families urge both the governments to release and repatriate these fisherpeople as a goodwill and humanitarian gesture,” peace activist Jatin Desai said at a press conference here.
While India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15, that of Pakistan falls on August 14.
Of the 198 Indian fisherpeople currently imprisoned in Pakistan, 178 have completed their sentences and their nationality has also been verified, Desai said.
Of these 178, a total of 10 completed their sentences in July 2021, 115 in March 2022, 21 in November 2022, 10 in January 2023, and 22 in July 2024, he said.
Citing section 5 of the India-Pakistan Agreement on Consular Access, 2008, Desai said, “Both the governments agree to release and repatriate persons within one month of confirmation of their national status and completion of sentences.”
But the provision has not been implemented in “letter and spirit”, he said.
An official release issued by the groups said an estimated four to five Indian fishermen die every year during their incarceration in Pakistan.
In March last year, an Indian fisherperson also died by suicide in prison, it added.
The activist groups and families have urged the governments to immediately release and repatriate all fisherpeople who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has already been verified.
“We respectfully but firmly call for the immediate release and repatriation of all fisherpeople who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has already been verified,” the letter stated.
The activists also urged India and Pakistan to reactivate the India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners. The last meeting of the committee was held in 2013 and it has not met since then, Desai said.
Letters from imprisoned fishermen have also stopped reaching their families after 2020, he added.
The Gujarat government currently provides a financial assistance allowance of Rs 300 per day to families of local fishermen arrested and imprisoned in Pakistan after crossing maritime boundaries.
Desai requested that the amount be increased to at least Rs 500 per day to support the affected families.
A local group of activists in Gujarat, along with NFF, met Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who assured them that he would take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“Out of 198, 144 fishermen are from Gujarat. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has assured us that he will take up the matter with the MEA and Home Minister Amit Shah,” said Usmangani Sherasiya of NFF.
Families at the press conference spoke about the mental and financial hardships they have faced since their loved ones were imprisoned.
“My granddaughter has never seen the face of her father,” said Jiviben Solanki, a resident of Diu, whose son has been in a Pakistani jail since 2021.
Jiviben said her son Vishal Solanki accidentally crossed the IMBL while fishing and was detained. A few months after his imprisonment, Vishal’s wife gave birth to their daughter, who is now five years old but has never seen her father.
Jignesh Rathod’s father has also been in a Pakistani jail since 2021. As the eldest son, Jignesh had to discontinue his studies to support the family financially.
“I left my Bachelor of Commerce midway in 2021 to support my family,” the 25-year-old said.
Rathod lives with his two siblings and mother at Una in Gir Somnath district.
“There has been no contact with him since we found out he was in jail. We received only one letter through another released prisoner,” he said.
The letter stated, ‘Don’t worry about me, I don’t know how long I will be in Pakistan. Take care of the family.’
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