It is stated by External affairs ministry spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin that out of 526 Indian prisoners who are fishermen, 173 will be released from Pakistani Jails by Goodwill Gesture on February 16.
173 Indian prisoners are supposed to be released from Pakistan under “Goodwill Gesture”. All of the 526 are fishermen, out of which 173 are going to be released on 16th February.
Syed Akbaruddin, External affairs ministry spokesperson decided to the release of 173 prisoners in which 172 are fishermen after a letter came from their government.
He tweeted, “Expectation of return soon. We have been informed that 173 Indian prisoners are to be released & repatriated from Pakistan on 16 February”.
Their wish is to release Pakistani fishermen and expected that India would respond to this positively. It is said that the prisoners will come through Wagah border, where Indian diplomatic mission staff need to receive them firstly.
There are about 526 Indians in Pakistani Jails among which 50 are civilians according to the reports till 1st January, 2015. As on now, 173 will be released.