Asylum-seekers return to Pakistan

Asylum-seekers return to Pakistan

JAKARTA: A group of Pakistanis flew home from Indonesia on Tuesday after abandoning hope of starting a new life in Australia.

The 19 adults and two children left Jakarta for Karachi aboard an international air carrier, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.

The Pakistanis were escorted by an IOM official, the statement said, adding that they were the largest group of Pakistanis being sent home from Indonesia this year.

A total of 244 Afghans and 47 Pakistanis have voluntarily left Indonesia since the beginning of the IOM-sponsored repatriation in May.

Afghanis and Pakistanis were among thousands of asylum-seekers from the Middle East and parts of South Asia who became stuck in Indonesia as a result of aborted sea voyages to Australia arranged by people-smugglers.

Australia has launched a tough campaign to prevent refugee- laden boats from reaching its shores.

The unguarded shores and largely unpatrolled waters of the Indonesian archipelago have made it a popular stepping-stone for asylum-seekers trying to reach Australia by boat. --AFP