KARACHI: Pakistan has released six Iranian fishermen who were detained by the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) for fishing in Pakistani waters, Iranian media and local sources said on Friday.

Radio Farda while quoting Mehr News Agency said that all the six men released on Thursday reached their homes the same day. “The sailors were arrested on the charges of illegal entry into Pakistan’s waters.”

It said this was the fourth group of Iranian fishermen jailed in Pakistan over the past two years. Pakistan had so far released 41 other Iranian fishermen on three occasions, reported the agency.

A security source said that like Indians, Iranian fishermen were often caught by the marine authorities while fishing in Pakistani waters and booked by the police under Sections 3/4 of the Foreign Act and 3/9 of the Fishery Act.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2019