Islamabad: The much awaited release of 20 Indian prisoners by Pakistan on May 17 was delayed by a day due to logistical problems in transporting the prisoners from their respective jails in Baluchistan to Wagah border point in Punjab.

Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad said the Pakistan government has informed them that the prisoners would be released at Wagah at 9.30 am (IST) on May 18.

Apprehending delay in bringing the prisoners from Mach and Quetta prisons by train to Lahore on may 17 well before the border point was closed by 4.00 pm (IST), the Pakistan government decided to keep them in Lahore for the day and hand them over on May 18 morning.

The 20 prisoners include 14 crew members of the stranded Indian boat 'Raj Lakshmi' and six Sikhs who were apprehended for allegedly crossing into Pakistan from Iran without valid documents.

As part of confidence building measures, Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had announced early this month that the country would release 22 Sikh youths, 14 crew members of 'Raj Lakshmi' along with around 300 Indian fishermen.

However, only six of the 22 Sikh prisoners would be released on May 18 as they have been identified as Indian nationals by New Delhi.

The rest of the Sikh prisoners and fishermen would be released after completion of the identification process, which was initiated by the Indian High Commission officials.

PTI