KARACHI, May 28: The Edhi Foundation has appealed to the government for the release of the relatives of an Indian fisherman, Pershutam Bawa, who died in the Landhi Jail on May 14.

All arrangements to transport the body to Mumbai have been completed, said Rizwan Edhi who called for the release of his relatives on humanitarian grounds so that they could participate in the funeral rites in India.

The captive family members are two sons and an elder brother of the deceased. Bawa died of TB after remaining in Landhi jail for about four years. The family, along with some other Indian fishermen, had been arrested by the Pakistan Maritime Force.

Since his death, Bawa body has been kept in the Edhi morgue on the request of the Indian High Commission. The Edhi Foundation has arranged transportation of the body in the flight PK-274, scheduled to leave for Mumbai on Saturday morning, according to an official of the Foundation.

According to the Foundation, about 400 Indian fishermen are languishing in Karachi jails whereas about 150 Pakistani fishermen have been kept in different jails in the Indian state of Gujrat.