Pakistan has handed over a list of 546 Indian nationals languishing in its prisons to the High Commission of India in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
Of these prisoners, 52 of are civilians and 494 fishermen who had crossed into Pakistani waters.
The handing over of the list is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July, respectively.
The Indian government too will hand over a list of Pakistani prisoners to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Earlier, the government in January, 2017 had released 218 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture. That was the second time in less than two weeks that Pakistan had freed Indian fishermen detained for allegedly violating its territorial waters.