CHAGAI: As many as 1,000 Pakistani citizens, who were arrested in different parts of Iran, were deported by Iranian authorities through Taftan border in Chagai district during this week.

According to Levies Force officials in Taftan, they have rece­ived these deported Pakistanis between Sunday and Thursday as Iranian authorities handed over 200 migrants each day.

Sources in the local administration said that this practice had been continued for several months.

Majority of these migrants hailing from different parts of country, particularly from Punjab, tried to reach European countries via Iran without having valid traveling documents, the sources said, adding that the illegal immigrants preferred rugged ways along the Pak-Iran border to cross the border with the help of organised human traffickers.

“As per routine procedure all deportees are being handed over to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further interrogation,” FIA sources said.

The illicit human trafficking practice has increased as smugglers are also using the main Quetta-Taftan RCD highway to run their business in different small and long vehicles.

Dalbandin Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Javed Domki said that following his instructions Levies Force had arrested 12 illegal migrants who were traveling in a truck at Padag checkpoint on Thursday. “Forces are alert to stop human trafficking,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2020