August 21, 2002	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 11,1423

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JAKARTA, Aug 20: A group of Pakistanis flew home from Indonesia on Tuesday after abandoning hope of a new life in Australia.

The 19 adults and two children left Jakarta for Karachi aboard an international air carrier, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.

The Pakistanis were escorted by an IOM official, the statement said, adding that they were the largest group of Pakistanis being sent home this year.

A total of 244 Afghans and 47 Pakistanis have voluntarily left Indonesia since the beginning of the IOM-sponsored repatriation in May.

Afghans and Pakistanis were among thousands of asylum-seekers from the Middle East and parts of South Asia who became stuck in Indonesia as a result of aborted sea voyages arranged by people-smugglers.

Australia has launched a tough campaign to prevent refugee-laden boats from reaching its shores.

The unguarded shores and largely unpatrolled waters of the Indonesian archipelago had made it a popular stepping stone for asylum-seekers trying to reach Australia by boat.—AFP