KARACHI, Feb 25: The 90 job seekers, picked up by a Pakistan Navy patrolling unit from Astola Island on Monday, have not yet been given in custody of the Federal Investigation Agency.

They were abandoned, after being ferried to the island some 270kms west of Karachi, apparently by an agent on promise of lucrative jobs somewhere in the Middle East. Spotting them in very bad shape, due to dehydration, and stranded on the barren island, the Naval unit had rescued them and handed over to an official of the interior ministry.

According to Navy sources, the rescued batch was handed over to the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) for their onward transfer to any concerned agency.

However, owing to the jurisdiction problem, the MSA has given them in custody of a tehsildar in Pasni, Balochistan.

Sources told Dawn that the rescued people, mainly belonging to upcountry areas, would be booked under Passport Act as they had apparently attempted to leave the country without valid travel documents.

Authorities in Karachi have no idea about their whereabouts or physical condition.