03 January 2005	Monday	21 Ziqa'ad 1425

KARACHI, Jan 2: Pakistan released 268 Indian fishermen on Sunday who had been languishing in jails for the last one year for illegally fishing in Pakistani waters, officials said.

"We are releasing the fishermen after we received instructions from Islamabad," Ali Akbar, an official of the Sindh Home Department, said. The decision was made as a 'goodwill gesture' to India, he said.

The fishermen left for Lahore late Sunday evening by Khaiber Mail from where they would be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah border crossing. Pakistani authorities have arrested 895 Indian fishermen for straying into Pakistani waters since November 2003 and seized their 159 boats, Pakistani Maritime Security Agency spokesman, Khawar Hasan, said.

Some 108 Pakistani fishermen are behind bars in India on similar charges, he said. More than 200 Indian and 93 Pakistani fishermen were released in November 2003 by the two governments on humanitarian grounds.

All expenses for Indian fishermen's return were met by the Edhi Foundation. The fishermen were also given Rs100 each with a gift pack by Bilquees Edhi. The cash assistance was to help fishermen meet expenses during their journey. -Agencies