- Title: PAKISTAN: PAKISTANI DEPORTEES RETURN FROM SAUDI ARABIA
- Date: 27th September 1997
- Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (SEPTEMBER 27, 1997) (RTV) 1. GV PAN SHIP 0.11 2. SLV IMMIGRATION BOARDING SHIP 0.19 3. GV DEPORTEES ON THE SHIP (3 SHOTS) 0.27 4. SLV DEPORTEES DISEMBARKING 0.37 5. SV MAN CARRYING BABY COMING DOWN STEPS 1.04 6. SV IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS CHECKING PASSPORT AND STAMPING HANDS OF DEPORTEES 1.16 7. SLV DEPORTEES WALKING ON DOCKSIDE 1.29 8. SLV WOMEN GETTING OFF FERRY 1.37 9. SCU WOMAN DEPORTEE CRYING, SAYING SAUDI AUTHORITIES TORTURED HER AND NO WATER ON THE SHIP, VERY LITTLE FOOD AND AS A RESULT, PEOPLE DIED ON THE SHIP (URDU) 1.47 10. SLV DEPORTEES WALKING ON DOCK 1.51 11. SCU DEPORTEE SAYING SAUDI AUTHORITIES PUT THE DEPORTEES IN LARGE ROOMS WITH NO LIGHT, NO WATER, NO FOOD AND HAD A VERY HARD TIME AND THAT THEY ATE VERY LITTLE ON THE SHIP BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY FOOD (URDU) 2.28 13. SV AMBULANCE SERVICES CARRY DEAD BODIES OFF FERRY (3 SHOTS) 2.44 12. SV BODIES PUT INTO AMBULANCE 2.52 13. GV AMBULANCES DRIVE AWAY 3.03 Initials S3 P2/3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 12th October 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- City:
- Country: Pakistan ASIA
- Reuters ID: LVAB0RJFPHJIHN60OLMG3PTW94PU
- Story Text: - INTRO: A ferry carrying more than 1,800 Pakistanis and Indians deported from Saudi Arabia has docked after a two-day wait.
------------------------------------------------------------------ Ambulance volunteers said two Pakistanis and an Indian passenger died during the trip, but they gave no cause of death.
They said the ferry had 736 Pakistanis and 1,098 Indians on board when it docked on Saturday (September 27).
A port official who asked not to be identified said the Egyptian flagged ship Al-Madina approached Karachi Port on Thursday but was denied permission to dock because it had no clearing agent to represent it.
A volunteer for Edhi Welfare Trust charity said the dead Pakistanis were removed, but the dead Indian apparently remained on board.
Pakistani passengers were being kept at the port until immigration procedures were completed, while Indian passengers stayed on the vessel for onward passage to Bombay.
Saudi Arabia launched a crackdown on illegal workers in July, giving an estimated 100,000 aliens until October 16 to legalise their stay or leave.
A police official said most of the deportees have emergency passports but a lot lacked documents.
"It is necessary to verify that these people are all bona fide Pakistanis or otherwise before proceeding with other legal processes required for deportees," the official said.
Port officials said the dilapidated vessel had not been fit to make the voyage.
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