Pakistan to release 589 Indian prisoners

Arrangements were in place Monday for the release of 589 Indian prisoners by Pakistan at the Wagah border check post near the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, Indo-Asian News Service reported.

The prisoners, who were taken to Lahore Sunday, were brought to the Pakistan side of Wagah to complete last-minute formalities before their release to the Indian authorities.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is scheduled to fly to Wagah border to receive the Indian prisoners returning home.

The release of the prisoners - 529 fishermen from Gujarat and 60 others - was secured during the visit of Amarinder Singh to Pakistan last week.

During his visit, Singh had met Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf who had promised that Indians languishing in Pakistani jails would be freed soon as a goodwill gesture following the thawin bilateral relations.

The Punjab government has arranged to send the Gujarati fishermen back to their native places by train.

Source: Xinhua