01/12/2004

KARACHI: Another batch of 1383 Pakistanis, held for illegally entering into Oman in search of jobs at Muscat Jails, arrived here on Tuesday morning in two different Boats Al-Mohammadi-II and Al-Fajar.

The Boat Al-Mohammadi-II brought 700 Pakistanis while 683 came on Boat Al-Fajar, where Syed Fahad Burney, Vice Chairman of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International, received them.

According to Mr. Burney, these Pakistanis belong to various parts of the country and were arrested some time back while trying to enter into Oman illegally via sea route in search of lucrative jobs.

These innocent Pakistanis were smuggled to Middle Eastern countries by the influential Pakistani human smugglers.

These deportees were smuggled to the Gulf state through Iran after they paid huge sums of money to the agents.

On arrival from Muscat, Oman at at seaport Ghasbander, Keemari, they were provided food, drinking water and clothes arranged by Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International.

Ansar Burney also paid cash money to most of the returnees so that they could be able to go to their homes in the far-flung areas of Pakistan.

Describing the condition of these Pakistanis Ansar Burney said that they had been in jail for several days, some of them from several weeks, months and years, where their condition had deteriorated due to malnutrition and lack of basic facilities.

Most of them were in dirty torn-clothes and bare-footed.

The Pakistan Embassy in making arrangements for their release and returning home extended the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International all out support.

The Vice Chairman of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International and Prisoners Aid Society, Syed Fahad Burney, thanked and appreciated the kind cooperation of the Government of Oman for the release of Pakistani Prisoners.

He also appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Embassy in Muscat, specially its Community Welfare Attache, Mr Sohail Siddiqi in this regard.

Fahad Burney said the relatives of other prisoners in Foreign Jails could also be contacted to Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International at 6 Hassan Manzil, Arambagh Road, Karachi or by phone; (021) 2626274, 2628719, 2623382,
2623383.

Many of them have reportedly died while attempting to enter the Gulf to earn better livelihood. Coastguards, who are supposed to check the illegal human smuggling through sea, have yet to take effective measures to cope with the problem, he added

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