Pakistan today released 100 Indians, the first batch from the 442 Indian fishermen languishing in a jail in Karachi. The move comes after rights activists fought a legal battle in the Supreme Court against their unlawful detention. The first batch of 442 Indian fishermen to be freed from Pakistani prisons was released from Malir Jail in the southern port city of Karachi today. The fishermen were all arrested and convicted for illegally entering Pakistani waters. A group of 100 fishermen emerged from the jail at 8 am and began their journey to the eastern city of Lahore, said B M Kutty, a representative of the NGO Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, which works for the release of prisoners. The fishermen are travelling to Lahore in two buses with a 20-strong police escort. There were emotional scenes as the fishermen came out of the jail to be greeted by members of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research andPakistan Fisherfolk Forum, which had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the release of all fishermen who have completed their prison terms. Many of the fishermen embraced members of the two NGOs and thanked them for campaigning for their release. Most of the fishermen had been detained for up to three years even after completing their sentences ranging from six months to a year. Three more batches of Indian fishermen will be freed from jails in Sindh province on September 2, 4 and 6.