There were 585 Indian prisoners including nine juveniles in Pakistan jails, according to a report in leading and credible daily Dawn. The paper quoted diplomatic sources to say that the list contained names of 535 fishermen, 41 civilians and nine juveniles being held in different jails of the country.

The paper said Pakistan government on Wednesday handed over a list of 585 Indian prisoners including nine juveniles currently detained in the country’s jails. ‘Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over the list of Indian prisoners [including fishermen] in Pakistan to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the Foreign Office,’ Foreign Office Spokesman Mr Abdul Basit said.

The list was provided to India in accordance with Pakistan-India ‘Agreement on Consular Access’ signed last year on May 21, which requires both countries to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody on January one and July one every year.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office on the list given to India, however, did not mention the number of prisoners in Pakistan’s custody.

Meanwhile, Dawn alleged, New Delhi in violation of the agreement did not provide the list of Pakistani prisoners in its custody to Islamabad.