THATTA, Dec 2: One hundred and thirty six Pakistani fishermen languishing in different Indian jails including Jam Nagar, Chukho, Okhai and Bujj for a couple of years would be released on December 25 this year, said a press release issued by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) here on Saturday.

The PFF press release said that the fishermen’s release was the result of efforts by an international fishermen forum “World Forum of Fisher People”.

The forum’s Thoms Katery and Vanish Kumar held discussions with Congress leader Ms Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and persuaded them to release Pakistani fishermen on humanitarian grounds, he said.

India would hand over the 136 fishermen to Pakistani authorities at Wagah border on December 25, he said, adding that agenda of Indian foreign minister scheduled to visit Pakistan on December 16 also included seeking release of Indian fishermen detained in Pakistani jails, the release said.

PFF Chairman Syed Mohammad Ali Shah lauded the gesture of goodwill and demanded that Pakistan should reciprocate it by releasing Indian fishermen.