Pakistan to free 51 Indians as goodwill gesture

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has decided to release 51 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds in a goodwill gesture, the prime minister's office said Friday.

These prisoners have already served their sentences, the office said in a statement.

The prime minister expressed the hope that the Indian government will reciprocate the gesture and release the Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.

Pakistan and India routinely arrest fishermen after they crossed the maritime boundaries for fishing.

Pakistan and India have not succeeded in determining their water boundaries despite  series of dialogue on the issue.

Presently 482 Indian prisoners were in Pakistani jails whereas 496 Pakistanis were in Indian jails.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Khoso initiated dialogues with India for the swap of each other's prisoners.

The decision was made at a high level meeting attended by Federal Minister for Law, Ahmer Bilal Sufi, Chief Minister Sindh province,  Zahid Qurban Alvi and senior officials of the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, law and justice and Prime Minisster's Secretariat.

The decision came days after tensions between the uneasy neighbors following the attacks in jails on an Indian and a Pakistani prisoner. Both later died of wounds.

Rights groups in both countries complain of mistreatment of prisoners in both countries.