Lahore: Pakistan today handed over 150 Indian fishermen and another prisoner held for crossing the border to Indian authorities at the Wagah border in a goodwill gesture by Premier Nawaz Sharif who is in India to attend the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister.
Fifty nine prisoners were released from the district prison Malir in Karachi and 92 from the Nara prison in Hyderabad, officials said.
Out of the 151 people handed over to the Border Security Force at the Wagah border, 150 were fishermen and one was a prisoner in Karachi jail who inadvertently crossed into Pakistan from the Sindh border.
They were brought to the Wagah Border from Karachi by buses.
“After going through their papers they have been handed over to the Indian authorities,” a Rangers official told PTI. Talking to reporters fisherman Dapu Teja said he learnt bead work in jail.
“I get Rs 60 per every piece I make and I know how to make bracelets, anklets, necklaces and key chains with beads,” he said.
Teja was on board a ship which allegedly crossed over into the Pakistani territory seven months ago. He said there were seven people on the boat but only four were arrested by the Pakistan coastguards.
