Karachi, Aug 12 : Pakistan jail authorities here on Sunday released 26 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture on the eve of the inaugural session of the National Assembly where newly-elected members will take oath of their office, the media reported.

The freed fishermen were taken to Cantonment Railway Station to travel to Lahore, where they will be handed over to Indian border officials at Wagah on Monday, the Geo News reported.

Speaking to the media at the railway station, an Edhi official, the charity that paid the travel expenses of the Indian fishermen, called on the governments of Pakistan and India to relax rules for the poor fishermen.

"They represent the poorest section of the two countries. They should be freed as early as possible and there should be less restrictions on fishing," he said.

The move comes a day before Pakistan's newly-elected National Assembly members take oath. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan is expected to take oath as Prime Minister on August 18.



Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.

The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.

Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.

The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.

Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.

The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.