Three Pakistanis arrested

MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: Three Pakistanis' dreams of a new life in Australia were shattered when the authorities arrested them before they could make the short hop to Down Under.

The head of the Merauke Immigration Office, Armili, said the three men were planning to enter Australia illegally through this southernmost city in Irian Jaya, Antara reported.

The three men, who arrived in Merauke on Sept. 15, have been trying to charter a boat that would take them across to Australia, Armili said.

The three men -- identified as Ufman Ullah, Bashir Ahmed and Janed Akhter -- have been ordered to return to Jakarta before being returned to their country. (emb)