139 Gujarati fishermen in Pakistani jails, government tells Parliament

The Indian government today revealed in Parliament that as of July 1, 2024, 211 Indian fishermen are languishing in Pakistani jails, with 139 of them hailing from Gujarat.
The issue was brought to light by Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil, who raised serious concerns about the welfare of these fishermen and their families, who have been left in the dark due to a communication blackout imposed by Pakistan.
Gohil highlighted that during the UPA government, postal correspondence allowed families to receive updates about the fishermen’s well-being, but the practice has since ceased as Pakistan stopped facilitating such communication.
This has left families without any means to know the conditions of their loved ones, a situation Gohil described as a violation of basic human rights.
The Gujarat coastline, sharing a direct maritime boundary with Pakistan, often sees fishermen inadvertently crossing the international maritime line.
These unintentional breaches lead to frequent arrests by Pakistani maritime authorities. Only two weeks ago, seven fishermen from Gujarat were detained by Pakistani forces but were successfully rescued by the Indian Coast Guard.
Unfortunately, not all cases end so favourably, leaving many fishermen imprisoned for years.
Gohil criticised the lack of urgency in addressing the plight of these fishermen, especially those who have served their sentences but remain in jail due to untried cases.
He demanded that the Indian government appoint special legal counsel to expedite these cases and negotiate their swift release.
Terming the situation dire, Gohil urged the government to take immediate diplomatic steps to ensure that even when fishermen cross the maritime border accidentally, their trials are conducted within a reasonable timeframe and their repatriation expedited.
He stressed that the current state of neglect not only endangers the lives of the fishermen but also deepens the anguish of their families.