KARACHI, Feb 12: A group of 300 Afghan Hajis is being deported to Afghanistan via Chaman today. The Afghans were detained when they arrived in Karachi after performing Haj on fake Pakistani passports. A police party was given custody of the detained Afghans on Monday to take them to Quetta where they will be handed over to the Afghan authorities.

The decision to deport them was taken following diplomatic contacts between Pakistani and Afghan officials. This also included deporting those Afghan nationals who were convicted of crimes but were languishing in prisons even after completion of their sentences.

The well-placed sources said the number of Afghan who had travelled on fake Pakistani passports was around 1,000. They were detected while proceeding on Haj by the immigration authorities but on the intervention of the Haj affairs ministry allowed to proceed, and perform Haj.

On Tuesday, the Sindh government received instructions from the federal government to free women, children and elderly Afghan Hajis and be taken to Quetta for handing over to Afghan authorities.