Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: As many as 194 Pakistani fishermen are still languishing in Indian Jails and 66 others Pakistani fishermen are still missing or disowned by Indian authorities, Daily Times has learnt. Relatives of missing and captive fisherman have demanded release of all captive fishermen on humanitarian grounds from India and Pakistan.

While talking to Daily Times, Maryam Usman, whose maternal grandfather Hussain, fiancée Haroon and five other close relatives are missing since 1999 said, “We are worried about their lives and my mother has become mental patient, our seven relatives are still missing, while my others relatives including my uncle have safely returned home.”

“We have protested against their disappearance but remain unsuccessful in tracing them out,” she added. She demanded Pakistani government to take up the matter of her relatives with the Indian government.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Ibrahim, father of Rasheed, who is in the captivity of Indian authorities, complained that despite his protest and complaints with the government, no arrangement has been made on the part of any government for his meeting with his son. “Couple of months back, India released 88 fishermen and Nazeer was also among these released persons, who informed me regarding Rasheed that he is still languishing in Indian Jail,” he said. He appealed to Pakistani and Indian government to release all fishermen.

Talking to Daily Times, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Chairman Mohammad Ali Shah said, “Both governments are not ready to resolve the fishermen problems.” He blamed the government of Pakistan for not taking up the issue of missing fishermen and even those detained fisherman who have completed their prison tenure.

He said that more than 100 Pakistani fishermen have completed their prison term in Indian jails but due to the lack of interest of the Pakistan government they were not being repatriated and were living a miserable life in Indian jails. He said that families of jailed fishermen were forced to live life under abject poverty.

He said even federal government is not ready to write to Indian government and Pakistani High Commission has not shown any interest for resolving the issue. He said even Justice (r) Nasir Aslam Zahid, a member of judicial committee, joined their protest rallies they staged for release of the imprisoned fishermen.

According to the PFF, 66 Pakistani fishermen are missing or disowned by Indian authorities. 11 of them including Balach s/o Shamby, Hashim, Hassan, Jam, Gullam Jam, Mallag, Murad, Hassan, Mehrab, Bahadur Khan are still missing since 1993, while 27 persons including Umar, Hassan, Bachal s/o Deeno, Fida, Ghafoor, Kali, Paryal, Karo, Sattar Khaskheli, Hussain Khaskheli, Khamiso Khaskheli, Babu Khaskheli, Aslam Khaskheli, Yousuf Khaskheli, Juman Mallah, Mubeen Khaskheli, Akbar Ali, Mazhar, Rasool Bux Khaskheli, Juman Mallah, Shehmeer, Attar, Ramzan, Ramzan, Hameed Pathan, Noor Alam and Hameed are missing since 1994.

Since 1999, Allah Rakhio Dhandhal, Jaffar Dhandhal, Ameer Ali Dhandhal, Sadar Samejo, Razzaq Dhandhal, Lonai Dhandhal, Saho Dhandhal, Bhadino Dhandhal, Mor Dhandhal, Babu Dhandhal, Ishaque Dhandhal, Hadar Dhandhal, Achar Dhandhal, Schao Dhandhal, Hussain, Siddique, Haroon, Sudheer, Haroon, Ameer, Qadir, Ibrahim, Usman, Aabu, Rajab, Mohammad and Iqbal are missing.

The PFF said that 194 fishermen in Indian Jails, among them 79 not yet confirmed and in the list, are confirmed names. There are 215 boats of fishermen in Indian custody too, it added.