DERA GHAZI KHAN, Oct 13: The body of a minor camel jockey, who died during a race in Dubai a week ago, reached his native village here on Wednesday.

The body of eight-year-old Kaleem, son of Muhammad Husain, arrived at 6.30pm at the Multan airport. Officials of the FIA took the deceased's father into custody for investigation but later let him take the body home. Husain works as a cobbler in Dubai.

Information reaching here revealed that Husain had come to Pakistan some time ago for the alleged purchase of children for camel races, a popular sport in Dubai. At least five children from the area, including Kaleem, were sent along with their fake parents on bogus travelling documents.

The deceased's address on the documents claimed that he was a resident of Bakharwala post office area in Dera Ghazi Khan. His funeral will be held at Chak 2 at 8am on Thursday (today).

Human smuggling for camel races in Dubai is not a new thing and, unfortunately, the district administration and police have failed to check the practice. It is pertinent to recall that three month ago the officials of the FIA in Karachi, assisted by the Ansar Burni Trust, had caught two children being taken for the purpose.

NAZIM: District Nazim Jamal Khan Leghari has imposed section 144 for 30 days here on the direction of the Punjab government.