Wagah, May 17
Disappointment was writ large on the faces of the families waiting for a re-union with their wards when the Pakistani authorities informed that the repatriation of Punjabi youth languishing in Pakistan jails would take place tomorrow.

Talking to The Tribune, the group of families were unanimous in their view that the peace initiative under way would pave the way for the release of all Indian prisoners in Pakistan jails and end their long wait to get united with their dear ones.

Camping near the Wagah joint checkpost (JCP) in sweltering heat the family members along with a large number of media persons could not hold back their tears when the Pakistan authorities announced at about 12 noon that the repatriation could not take place today as the train carrying the group of Indian fishermen and Punjabi youth from Queta in the North West Frontier area of Pakistan could not arrive this morning at Lahore. However, the Indian authorities claimed that their counterparts had promised to release the Indian captives tomorrow.

Family members of the Sikh Regiment jawan, Gurnam Singh, who had been taken prisoner of war (PCW) in the 1971 war, had been awaiting with hope the return of their brother after 32 years. But their hope turned into despair when the release was deferred by another day. His brother Gian Singh told The Tribune that they had been receiving information from his unit that Gurnam Singh was untraceable. Later they had thought that he may not be alive. But when they saw his name figure in the list released by the Pakistani authorities they hoped that he could still be alive.

A large number of families had gathered at the checkpost to receive their relatives who were reportedly languishing in different jails of Pakistan but whose names did not figure in the released list.

In one such case the wife Kashmir Kaur, daughter Harjit Kaur and brother Gurdev Singh, all from Dera Baba Nanak area, of a BSF jawan Joginder Singh, who was reportedly taken prisoner the 1971 war and was languishing in Multan jail, too had come with the hope of meeting their dear one.

A team of Coast Guard officers was also present to receive a group of 14 Indian fishermen who were nabbed by the Pakistan navy from the Gujarat coast and were also expected to be released along with others.