Families of 11 Pakistani fishermen, including two minors, have appealed to the federal and Sindh governments to secure the immediate release and safe return of their relatives from Indian jails. The fishermen were allegedly detained earlier this month after being intercepted while fishing in the Arabian Sea.
Read More: Release of fishermen
The fishermen belong to coastal communities in Ghorabari, Thatta, and Ibrahim Hyderi in Karachi. According to family members, the Indian Navy seized their fishing boat on December 10 and detained the crew before transferring them to prisons in India.
Speaking at the Thatta Press Club, Ali Hassan Parheri, who represented the affected families, said the detained fishermen were the sole breadwinners for their households. He said their detention had left elderly parents, women and children facing serious financial hardship.
The detained fishermen were identified as Somar Parheri, Ghulam Mustafa, Sultan Ahmed, Sarwar, Nakho Shafi, Mohammad Hussain, Ibrahim, Sarfraz and three others, including minors Zaheer and Habibullah. Families said the detention of children had caused deep anxiety and distress.
Rights activists have also raised concerns over the imprisonment of the two minors, urging authorities to ensure their early release in line with international humanitarian and child protection norms. They stressed that minors should not be subjected to prolonged detention under any circumstances.
The families have urged President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take up the issue with Indian authorities through diplomatic channels. They called for swift intervention to ensure the fishermen’s repatriation and prevent further suffering of their dependents.
In addition, the families appealed for immediate financial assistance, saying many households were struggling to meet basic needs in the absence of income. They also called for better maritime coordination between Pakistan and India to reduce the frequency of such incidents.
Read More: Pakistan sets free 100 Indian fishermen
Arrests of fishermen from both countries remain common due to unclear maritime boundaries in the Arabian Sea, with poor fishermen often becoming victims of prolonged detention despite limited means and unintentional border crossings.