Seven Qatari nationals, including four royals, have been arrested for attempting to hunt the houbara bustard in Nushki district of Balochistan without permission of the Foreign Office, a private media outlet reported.

According to reports, the Qatari nationals were en route Nushki when they were intercepted and taken into custody on the Quetta-Nushki highway. Deputy Commissioner Abdul Razzaq Sasoli confirmed the arrest and stated that they were aiming to hunt without proper license.

He added that the Qataris had been handed over to the wildlife department.

The four royals have been identified as Sheikh Mohammad bin Mansoor Jasim, Sheikh Khalid bin Ali, Sheikh Abdullah bin Jasim and Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Khalid.

A case has been registered against the foreigners who were in the country on a three-month visa. They had been informed before that they would not be allowed to hunt if they did not possess a proper hunting license.

According to the Wildlife Department, 100 houbara bustards can be hunted for a fee of $100,000.