International - Globescan   

Prisoners exchange

Nirupama Subramanian

Number of people to be freed not known yet

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India are set to release each other's citizens from their jails on December 22, but nothing is known yet of the numbers that will be freed. The two sides had agreed to "exchange prisoners" by December 25, a date set by the two Foreign Secretaries at their November 14-15 New Delhi meeting. According to the Indian High Commission, as many as 460 Indians in Pakistani jails are eligible for release, meaning that their Indian nationality is confirmed and they have completed their sentences. Of this, more than 400 are fishermen. Pakistan officials have confirmed that 275 of its citizens, including 25 fishermen, are in Indian jails. Indian officials said many non-fishermen had not completed their sentences and so may not be eligible for release. Fishermen, mostly arrested for trespassing, are usually not handed down sentences and can be released without problems once their national status is confirmed, the officials said.

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