Updated on Saturday, July 04, 2009, 14:46 IST

Lahore, July 04: A travel agency scam has stranded as many as 800 Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia after their travel agents refunded their tickets in Pakistan.

The Daily Times quoted one pilgrim, as saying that his visa for staying in Saudi Arabia would expire in a couple of days.

He said his sub-agent in Saudi Arabia had suggested his family to surrender to the Saudi authorities, as Pakistani travel agents could not be contacted.

The sub-agent in Jeddah also advised stranded people that they would be deported if they surrendered to the authorities.

Another victim of the scam said his family had contacted the Pakistani consular for help but no one had offered to help.

Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi said that three Pakistani travel agents were involved in the scam.

ANI