Members of the fishing communities from Gujarat and Diu, Union Territory, held a press conference in Ahmedabad, urging the Union Government to take proactive measures to secure the release of Indian fishermen currently detained in Pakistan. Presently, 217 Indian fishermen, mostly from Gujarat and Diu, are held in Pakistan’s Malir Jail. Of these, 53 have been incarcerated since 2021 and 130 since 2022.
During the press conference, women from the affected families shared their hardships and expressed concern about the impact of the detentions on their households. They highlighted the economic and emotional strain caused by the absence of their family members, with many women forced to take up work to sustain their families. The education and well-being of their children are also being adversely affected.
Representatives Ramilaben Bamania, Bharatiben Solanki, and Dhamiben from Saurashtra and Diu narrated their struggles. Along with other community leaders, including Jatin Desai, Usman Sherasiya, Jivan Jungi, and Chagan Bamania, they have written to the Minister of External Affairs, Shri S. Jaishankar, urging the government to engage with Pakistan for the release and repatriation of the fishermen.
They emphasized the need for a team of Indian doctors to assess the health conditions of the detained fishermen and advocated for the revival of the India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners, which was instrumental in facilitating prisoner releases until its last meeting in October 2013. They also stressed the importance of establishing communication channels between detained fishermen and their families, as the lack of information exacerbates their distress.
The bilateral Agreement on Consular Access, 2008, stipulates that both governments agree to release and repatriate individuals within one month of confirming their national status and completing their sentences. However, despite the confirmation of nationality and completion of sentences for around 170 of the detained fishermen, their release remains pending.
The families have called for the agreement to be implemented fully, emphasizing that detaining fishermen for several years over unintentional border crossings is a humanitarian issue. They appealed for swift action to bring relief to the affected families and ensure the fishermen’s timely return.
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