Pakistan Maritime Security arrest 50 Indian fishermen

E-Paper | August 01, 2026

Pakistan Maritime Security arrest 50 Indian fishermen

Imtiaz Ali Published March 5, 2017

Indian fishermen look on as they sit in a police station in Karachi. — AFP

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Pakistan Maritime Security Agency apprehended 85 Indian fishermen on Sunday on charges of fishing illegally within the territorial limits of Pakistan, a senior police official told Dawn.

City Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Adeel Hussain Chandio said the anglers were arrested from within the sea limits of Pakistan.

The SSP added that their boats were also seized and handed over to the Docks Police for further legal action.

SHO Docks Police Shaukat Ali said 85 Indian fishermen and 14 'launches' were seized as part of the operation.

The arrested fishermen will likely be presented before a court on Monday.

Indian and Pakistani fishermen are frequently detained for illegal fishing since the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack the technology to fix their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail, even after serving their terms, as poor diplomatic ties between the two neighbours mean fulfilling bureaucratic requirements can take a long time.

Pakistan

Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.

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Mar 05, 2017 10:55pm

The two countries can not get along with themselves, and then, as always, who pays the price for it? The common man, not the politicians or the people in power - think about it, before blaming ordinary Pakistanis/Indians who are just being manipulated to go against each other.

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Pragmatic approach

Mar 05, 2017 11:23pm

The same people who apprehend the fishermen can warn them by search lights,to go back, instead arresting and putting them in jails for so long, as long as ten years sometimes.Humane preferences should be foremost.

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Omar

Mar 06, 2017 12:58am

What purpose does it serve? Poor,ignorant people of both sides are innocent victims of state abuse on both sides. Let them reunite with their loved ones!

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Amit shukla

Mar 06, 2017 01:15am

Revenge or competition is part of two neighbors but please keep away these poor people from all these either they belong to India or Pakistan.

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Mar 06, 2017 01:20am

Release these poor people Mr Nawaz. For Gods sake have some mercy.

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Omar

Mar 06, 2017 01:29am

When India has such a long maritime border why do these fisherman have fish near Pakistani waters. We should mine the maritime borders to prevent them from 'fishing' and who knows what else near Pakistani waters.

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Amaan ali

Mar 06, 2017 01:46am

Good. Now we feed all of them for months. Why we do this?

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Sandeep

Mar 06, 2017 01:57am

These guys sure look like spies to me!

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Alba

Mar 06, 2017 01:56am

When the fish are running out in 40 years they will be arresting 5,000 instead of fifty. South Asia will be a hungry place in 40 years.

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Pakistani

Mar 06, 2017 02:19am

Fun fact,many of them have GPS in their boats,they know they are in Pakistani waters but risk it anyway because Indian waters have too many fishermen.Its sad.

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Sajjad

Mar 06, 2017 02:36am

Despite of India's arrogant diplomatic era , these fishermen should be released soon. They are just some common people trying to make a living. Their families must be waiting.

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Zahid

Mar 06, 2017 03:06am

They should take this very serious we don't know who these fishermen are. Could be spies terrorists who knows. Don't let them go without complete and thorough investigation

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Pakistani

Mar 06, 2017 03:18am

Just Let them go please they have families to feed.

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Mohan Kareti

Mar 06, 2017 05:26am

How can we help to get these countries to set aside there differences and work towards helping these fisherman and those poor villagers who wander across the borders. Both Indian and Pakistani. PS: Iam an American who immigrated from India, I love India but I still do not care for its petty politics any like minded people from both sides willing to Lobby

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Mohan Kareti

Mar 06, 2017 05:29am

Iam an American who immigrated from India. I love India because my friends and relatives are in India, But I really do not care for petty politics of both India and Pakistan specially when they are at cost of poor and Innocent civilians on both sides any like minded people from either country to figure out what can be done and Who to contact.

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Tom

Mar 06, 2017 06:13am

Poor people pay the price of enmity between two countries I have no idea what both country is trying to achieve by arresting the poorest of poor

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Farouq omaro

Mar 06, 2017 06:36am

Wasting Pakistan's resources by putting them in jails and feeding them, transporting them to court, opening files for them, then deporting them. Could channel all these for more pressing matters.

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Indian true friend of beloved pakistan

Mar 06, 2017 06:46am

There should be an agreement between two countries to overcome this issue. Port fishermen shouldn't be scapegoat. Instead arresting them they should be check and if nothing is found they should be realesed.They should not be made to languish in jails for years.

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Mar 06, 2017 07:31am

Couple of days back India released 29 Pakistan fisherman. Now Pakistan will do the same........hence goodwill gestures are there .......but why in the first place they are needed to be caught by both countries.

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Irfan Khan

Mar 06, 2017 07:46am

They are ordinary men some of them don't even know if they are in Pakistan side. Just investigate and let them go back to their homes as their loved ones will be waiting for them. A Proud Pakistani here.

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Vijay

Mar 06, 2017 08:27am

What happened to your so called goodwill gesture. ..

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Mar 06, 2017 11:38am

After serving jail sentence they can work on ship deck for Pakistan till their release petitions arrive why keep in jails and feed them free. After jail term is finished they cannot be put to work in jail !

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