KARACHI, Sept 11: As many as fifty-five fishermen, who went missing 13 years ago and were assumed to be dead, are reportedly alive and languishing in different Indian prisons.

This was claimed by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) on the basis of the data collected through various sources. According to Sami Memon of the forum, most of the missing fishermen belong to Sann, Larkana, Thatta and the coastal areas of Sindh. Mr Memon said that the data collected by the PFF showed that around 200 Pakistani fishermen had lost their lives between 1994 and 1999 due to rough sea conditions.

He said that the forum had launched an extensive campaign for the recovery of the missing fishermen. Mr Memon claimed that the PFF had confirmed the presence of 55 fishermen in different Indian prisons held on charges of illegal fishing in the Indian waters.

He said that those identified include Sattar Khaskheli, Mobin Khaskheli, Khamiso Khaskheli, Babu Khaskheli, Aslam Khaskheli, Yusuf Khaskheli, Juman Khaskheli, Rasool Bux Mallah, Juman Mallah, Ali Akbar Mallah, Mazhar Mallah and two others, all crew members of Al-Naveed that might have strayed into the Indian waters.

Mr Memon said that these fishermen belonged to Thatta, Larkana and other districts of the province. Fisherman Noor Mohammad Themoor said that more than 100 fishermen had gone missing since 1999 due to inclement weather.

The PFF spokesman urged the Pakistan and Indian authorities to show leniency in the cases of fishermen and declare the list of all the detained fishermen.