KARACHI, Aug 14: A group of 34 Indian prisoners under the age of 18 were freed in accordance with the federal government’s decision as a goodwill gesture on the occasion of the Independence Day on Thursday.

They were released from the Youthful Offenders Industrial School, adjacent to the Central Prison, at 9am and taken to Lahore.

They are to be handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border on Friday.

Inspector-General of Prisons, Sindh, Yameen Khan told Dawn that the juvenile Indian prisoners were fishermen by profession and had been apprehended by the Maritime Security Agency when they were found fishing in Pakistani waters. They were charged under the Fishery Act.

“We still have 439 Indian prisoners in our custody and all of them are fishermen,” he added.

The IG said that 86 other prisoners, including four women, were released under the remission in sentences announced by the government on the Independence Day, he said, adding that another 181 prisoners languishing in different jails in Sindh benefited from the remission.

The freed Indian fishermen boarded an air-conditioned bus about an hour after their release from the Youthful Offenders Industrial School, APP adds. The IG of prisons, along with the DIG, jail superintendent, assistant jail superintendent and other officials were present. The bus left for Lahore.

All arrangements for the fishermen’s travel to Lahore were made by a welfare organisation.

Speaking at a simple ceremony held on the occasion, IG Yamin Khan expressed the hope the Indian government would reciprocate the gesture by releasing Pakistani fishermen from its jails.

He said the young fishermen had been kept in the Youthful Offenders Industrial School like guests.

His remarks were acknowledged by the freed Indians who thanked the Pakistan government for its goodwill gesture.