The eve of the anniversary of Pakistan and India’s Independence Day that citizens of both countries jointly celebrate each year brought hope for detained Indian fishermen in Pakistan. On Aug 12, the Supreme Court took up a constitution petition filed by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and five under-detention Indian fishermen and four undertrial Indian fishermen, on behalf of all 582 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails.
The three-member bench comprising honorable judges Mr. Justice Tassaduq Hussain Gilani, Mr. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Mr. Justice Asif Khosa, heard the arguments of Syed Iqbal Haider, the petitioners’ counsel and a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, and issued notices to the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Home Department of Government of Sindh, requiring them to explain under what lawful authority the Indian fishermen were arrested, prosecuted and convicted, and to disclose the law under which the Indian fishermen have been detained.
