Thursday, March 17 2005 22:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Wagah (Amritsar): Twenty-one Indian prisoners who were released by Pakistan returned home today (March 17, 2005).

Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who returned wrapping up a visit to Pakistan, the prisoners from Punjab and Haryana languishing in Lahore jail crossed over to India through the Wagah border.

Chief Minister of West Punjab (Pakistan) Parvez Elahi was also present during the occasion.

"Today I could bring only 21 Punjabi youth including some from the neighbouring State of Haryana from the Lahore jail of Pakistan and rest of the youth would be repatriated in the next couple of days," Singh said.

"During my four day stay in Pakistan I had the privilege to meet the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf at Islamabad and discussed the detention of Punjabi youth rotting in the various jails of Pakistan," he said while interacting with the media at the border.

Referring to his meeting with Musharraf, Singh said he took quick action and ordered has staff to bring the data of the Indian Punjabi youth lodged in the Pakistan jails and ordered their unconditional release forthwith.

"Pervez Musharraf told me that Pakistan Government was going to release 83 Punjabi youth and 120 other Indians, including fishermen who by mistake entered the territorial waters of Pakistan".