Fisherman’s goof in middle name prolongs his stay in Pakistan jail

Rajkot: Resident of Nava Bandar village of Una taluka in Gir Somnath district, Babu Bambhania has been lodged in a Pakistan jail since March 2017. His boat was apprehended after he, along with five other sailors were caught in foreign waters.
However, while the other persons were released within six months of arrest, Bambhania is still languishing behind bars as he goofed on his middle name which did not match with documents in Pakistani authorities’ possession.
Bhaniben, Bambhania’s illiterate wife is now running from pillar to post to rectify her husband’s error and secure his release. She represented her peculiar case even to the President of India besides the external affairs ministry with the help of local social workers.
Bhaniben said, “My husband stated his middle name to be ‘Kisanbhai’ at the time of his arrest, while according to his documents it is “Karsanbhai”. This created confusion with Indian and Pakistani authorities, which led to prolonging his stay in the Karachi jail for the past three years.”
She implored Indian authorities to intervene on this technical issue and resolve the impasse.
Bambhaniya, along with five others had set sail from Okha port in their boat named Nizamuddin-1, which is registered at Mangrol port.
Owner of the boat, Salim Hussain told TOI, “I have prepared a whole file and approached the local politicians for Bambhania’s release. While I am doing my best, other sailors tell me that Bambhania is not responding when the jailor calls out his name. He should have stated his name as in documents to the Pakistani authority.”
According to the family, three of his children including two sons and one daughter, are studying while the 17-year-old eldest son is working in the local fish market as a labourer.
Bhaniben told TOI, “I am not educated and it’s getting very difficult for me to run the family single-handedly. I am under huge debt for the past three years and can’t wait for my husband to return home.”
Ajay Shiyar, a social worker, who is helping the family said, “With the help local politician we are trying to approach Indian embassy in Pakistan and external affairs ministry to solve the technical glitches and expedite his release.”