NEW DELHI, Feb. 27 APP: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said 372 Indian fishermen and 342 boats continue to be in custody of Pakistan authorities. The fishermen and boats are mostly from Gujarat and the Union Territory of Diu and Daman, he informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
The Indian Minister said since 2005, 1579 fishermen have been released by Pakistan including those taken into custody before 2005. The Indian government has taken up issue of their release and their boats regularly with Pakistan government, he said adding a Judicial Committee comprising judges from India and Pakistan has been formed to expedite the release of prisoners in either country which met here on Tuesday.
He said 460 Indian fishermen were taken into custody by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency in 2005, 365 in 2006, 124 in 2007 and 22 in 2008. 251 boats were similarly taken into custody between 2003 and 2005, 58 in 2006, 29 in 2007 and 4 in 2008.