Overstayers Attack Officials

TAIF, 1 September 2006 — A number of overstayers attacked a group of passport and municipal officials who were on a visit to a vegetable market in Taif for inspection. Municipal officials Muhammad Naqash and his assistant were injured when laborers working in the Bin Jamaa market became violent and attacked them. Other officials overpowered the violent men and arrested them. The officials found 62 illegal laborers in the vegetable and fruit markets, telephone showrooms and other establishments.

These violators of residency and labor regulations had arrived in the Kingdom on Umrah and Haj visas. Some of them had run away from their original sponsors.