LAHORE, June 22: Law-enforcement agencies on Tuesday arrested another three dozen black Africans on the charge of violating immigration laws. Official sources told Dawn that the arrests were made during raids conducted in various parts of the city, mainly Civil Lines and some hotels in the city division police limits.

Most of those held were Nigerians, they said, adding around 69 such arrests were made on June 18. "Police are not directly involved in the campaign. They have just been asked to assist the other law-enforcers, including the FIA and the ANF," a senior police officer said.

Most of the arrested men were charged with staying in Pakistan after the lapse of their legal stay. Some of them also produced a certificate from the UNHCR at the time of arrest as a last resort, but the law-enforcers did not recognize it. "The certificate is issued just to such foreigners living in Islamabad and is valid for no other place," the officer said.

Various hotels at Naulakha, Qila Gujjar Singh and Gowalmandi were raided and had been put under strict vigil by the police teams. He added that the documents in possession of the foreigners staying at the hotels had been thoroughly checked and all those found involved in violating the immigration laws were taken into custody.

They had been detained at various police lock-ups and cases registered under the Foreign Act. "We are registering the cases under relevant laws and will hand over the accused to the FIA or wanted by any other law enforcement agency," the police officer said. Further investigation is under way.