PFF, PILER distribute essential items among detained Indian fishermen in Malir prison

A joint delegation of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) distributed clothes, chappal and other essential items among 295 Indian fishermen, detained in Malir District Jail, here on Saturday.
Most of these fishermen are detained for many years without any trial or detained after completion of their sentences. Total 582 Indian fishermen are languishing in four jails of Sindh province – Malir District Jail (Karachi), Nara Jail (Hyderabad), District Jail Badin and District Jail Naushehro Feroz. All these fishermen are waiting for their deportation as the exchange of fishermen between two countries has been halted particularly after Mumbai terrorist attacks.
About 150 Pakistani fishermen are also detained in various jails of India waiting to be released in a ‘tit-for-tate’ deal. Under the Pakistani laws, prisoners who have completed their terms could be detained only for the next three months. However, after expiry of that period, either the prisoners should be freed or the government has to seek permission from the Supreme Court’s review board for further detention. In the case of Indian fishermen, the government has been seeking permission from the review board, which allowed that these fishermen be kept in jails.
A PFF and PILER delegation had visited the Malir district jail early this month to get signatures of few Indian fishermen inmates for the constitution petition which is being filed in Supreme Court to release the detained Indian fishermen. A similar petition has also been filed by Indian NGOs in Supreme Court of India.
Assistant Superintendent of Malir District Jail Shahabuddin Siddique assisted the visit of the delegation and also supervised the distribution of the essential items among Indian fishermen. He informed the delegation that the government is already providing all the essential goods to these inmates. They are also receiving adequate medical facilities, he added.
PFF delegation comprised of General Secretary of PFF Saeed Baloch, Ayoub Shan, Talib Katchi, Moosa Charan, where as PILER delegation included Secretary of PILER Board B. M. Kutty, Sharafat Ali, Shujauddin Qureshi and Ghulam Hussain Gabol.
Ends


Shujauddin Qureshi
Senior Research Associate
Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER),
Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi-75340