RAWALPINDI, Jan 12: A ferry carrying 563 Pakistanis arrested in Oman on charges of illegal entry and working without permission is likely to arrive in Karachi this week.The deportees will reach Karachi after a journey of two days and three nights.

Sources told Dawn on Monday that in addition to the 563, there were 1,200 more Pakistanis in the custody of the Omani Police.

The Omani authorities have launched a crackdown on illegal immigrants, arresting more than 5,000 immigrants from different countries.

The crackdown is aimed at avoiding any trouble during the coming Arabian Gulf Football Championship and Muscat Festival being held this month.

Police informed the Pakistani mission that a large number of Pakistanis were among those arrested.

The mission was informed that 70, of the 563 Pakistanis, had tried to get into Oman by sea without travel documents. The remaining immigrants were those who had overstayed in Oman and were rounded up by police during the crackdown on illegal immigrants in recent days.