KARACHI: All the 35 Indian fishermen sitting on the grass in four rows at the Malir district prison had similar stories to tell — of unknowingly straying into Pakistan waters, surrendering their boats, missing their families back in Gujarat and communicating with them by letters — and were overjoyed on finally returning home except one, the 36th man.

Mohammad Fahim, as his name suggests, is Muslim. “I thought this country was created as a home for Muslims. I wanted to make it my home, too, but I was denied this. I am being deported,” he said, while speaking to Dawn on Friday morning.

Fahim is not a fisherman. He is categorised as a ‘civilian’ who arrived in Pakistan through the Wagah border on an Indian passport. But then he stayed on, even after his visa expired. “I am from Ajmer. Our family owns three big sweetmeat shops there namely Madina Sweets, Sadaa Sweet Mart and Bholay Bhai Mithai Walay. I am myself into faith healing.

“I have been coming to Pakistan since 2001. The first time I visited only and then went back home. Then I came again in 2005 but returned to India after my stay here. But when I came here on May 28, 2007, I decided to stay for good.

“I didn’t want to go back to India as I had had a major argument with my seven bothers and father and never wanted to see them again. An aunt living here in Nazimabad let me stay with her. I was here for seven-and-a-half years and then someone suggested that I should look into getting Pakistani nationality.

“That’s when I met an agent who demanded Rs5,000 to get me the nationality. It was during the meeting he arranged for me in Nadra office at Civic Centre that he and the Nadra official turned on me and reported me to ISI. I have been in jail here ever since and my aunt informed me that the Nadra officer got praise and a raise for handing me over,” he said sadly.

Meanwhile, the fishermen being released and deported had among them a father, Babu Lakhman, and his son, Pravin Babu. Both were aboard the Raj Devika some 14 months ago when they crossed over without realising and were picked up by Pakistan Coast Guards. The son here did time at the Youthful Offenders Industrial School while the father was at the Malir jail.

Another fisherman, Danesh Shoma, said there were six of them aboard their boat, the Raj Sagar, for a month in the sea and everything was fine until they fell asleep one night and drifted to this side. “But once here, when I informed my family about what happened, my wife, Janu, wrote back saying not to take on too much tension since what happened wasn’t my fault. But I do worry. I also miss my four-year-old son, Yuvraj,” he said.

Arvin Shamji, meanwhile, after doing much thinking during these 14 months or so that he has been at the Malir jail, decided to not go back to fishing. “I have two daughters, Hasina, 18, and Rina, eight. I miss them terribly. I am also not well and recently spent two months in hospital at the prison due to anaemia. I will find work on the fields now after my return. This life is not for me,” he declared.

Biku Poppat sat there with his long black locks. “I had sworn not to get a haircut until I am released,” he said. He was joined in similar thoughts by Panna Bahi. “Hope my family recognise me on my return,” he smiled while running his fingers through his long hair.

Jayant Vima said that though his family back home must have gone through hell without their breadwinner he got plenty to eat in the prison. “We got to eat five rotis a day here with vegetable or chicken curry,” he said. On being asked if they ate chicken, the fisherman laughed. “Well, it’s white meat. We do eat fish, don’t we?”

The 35 fishermen and one civilian were taken to Lahore by road, courtesy Edhi Foundation. They will be handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2014