KARACHI: Some 19 Pakistani fishermen have gone missing while crabbing in the marshy creeks of Harami Nullah in the Sir Creek on Thursday. Later, reports about detention of four of them by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) reached Pakistan.

The fishermen were crabbing in the area at around 10am. They had reached there in their narrow kayak type boats. Soon they were surrounded by BSF and that was when they all ran.

Later, after seeing some pictures from India on social media, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) confirmed that four Pakistani fishermen had been arrested. They were identified as Gul Sher, Qadir, Gulab and Saim. The Indians also claimed capturing 10 boats.

The PFF said that 15 fishermen had probably escaped arrest though they were still missing this side.

A PFF spokesman told Dawn that the fishermen were most probably hiding somewhere and would reach home eventually. So far, 53 fishermen from Sujawal had been arrested while crabbing by Indian BSF. Many of them were still languishing in Indian jails, he said.

PFF chairman Mehran Ali Shah condemned arrest of poor and innocent fishermen.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2022