Gujarat Fisheries Minister Babubhai Bokhiria on Tuesday said the state government had yet to receive official confirmation from Pakistan on the release of 87 Indian fishermen from Landhi Jail in Karachi. While reports on Monday claimed the fishermen, who were arrested for allegedly violating Pakistan's territorial waters, had been released, Bokhiria said this was "surprising to hear” as there was no communication on the matter from the Centre or Indian High Commissioner’s office in Islamabad, PTI reported.

According to reports, the fishermen, who had been in prison for the past two and half years, will be handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah Border, and as many as 86 others will be freed later this month. Usually, the state fisheries department is contacted beforehand when fishermen from Pakistani jails are released, so officials can be sent to the Wagah Border to take them into custody after verification and identification, Bokhiria explained.

Superintendent of Landhi Jail Shakir Shah had said at least 536 Indian fishermen were serving time in jail for violating Pakistani territorial waters. Both India and Pakistan arrest fishermen and impound their boats often as the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is poorly defined.