Reacting to Pakistan's recent handing over of 163 Indian fishermen, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Sharif on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi on Tuesday said that the country has always upheld the issue of prisoners as a 'humanitarian one', adding that he hoped that all the prisoners who have completed their sentences would be released by the South Asian neighbour.
Pakistan on Sunday released 163 Indian fishermen from Karachi's Malir District Jail as a goodwill gesture.
They were repatriated to India through the Wagah border.
The prisoners were apprehended 10 months ago after allegedly straying in Pakistan's territorial water.
The release follows an interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during the summit in Ufa, Russia, recently in which it was agreed that the detained fishermen of the two countries would be released.
As per reports, the fishermen freed on Sunday include three minors and 160 adults.