|
ISLAMABAD, March 5|05: The
Pakistan government has decided to ask the Indian government to improve
traveling facilities between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad by easing
restrictions on the people of occupied Kashmir.
Informed sources told Dawn here on Saturday that the government would soon
contact the Indian authorities to help address genuine concerns of the
Kashmiris regarding travel to Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.
Various Kashmiri political parties, especially All Parties Hurriat
Conference (APHC), had urged the Pakistan government to take up the issue
with the Indian government or else majority of the Kashmiris in the occupied
valley would not be able to visit Azad Kashmir.
"This is an important matter which is being taken up with the Indian
officials", a source said and expressed a hope that New Delhi would remove
various restrictions on Kashmiris with a view to helping them freely travel
to Azad Kashmir.
The convener of APHC Azad Kashmir and Pakistan chapter, Farooq Rehmani, when
contacted, confirmed that Pakistan government had been asked to take up the
travel issue with the Indian officials.
"We have told the Pakistani government that there are a number of
restrictions on the Kashmiris of occupied Kashmir in respect of travel to
Azad Kashmir and without removing them majority of the people cannot benefit
from this latest confidence building measure", he said.
He identified five major Indian laws that could cause hurdles for the
Kashmiris travelling to Azad Kashmir. These, he said, included detention
laws, Disturbed Area Act, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Public Safety
Act, modified POTA and Unlawful Activities Act.
"Some Kashmiris had left for Azad Kashmir and Pakistan 15 years ago. Since
then their relatives in occupied Kashmir have been subjected to suspicion
and it is very much likely that they will never be allowed to visit Azad
Kashmir", Mr Rehmani said.
Passports of large number of people in occupied Kashmir, the APHC convenor
said, had been confiscated by the Indian government and they just could not
think of travelling to Azad Kashmir. Unless passport were released to these
people, it would be difficult for them to visit Pakistani part of Kashmir,
he added.
Similarly, he said, thousands of Kashmiris had been disallowed to perform
Haj or Umra this year due to one reason or another. "And now if they apply
for permission to visit Azad Kashmir they would again be stopped, therefore
we request the Pakistan government to take up the matter with the Indian
government", he said.
Responding to a question, he said that the Passport Office of Srinagar had
started receiving applications from those who intended to travel to
Muzaffarabad. "But, according to our information, there is very strict
scrutiny regarding residence and other details of the applicants.
Mr. Rehmani was of the view that there would be negative impacts on CBMs made
so far if the Kashmiris of the occupied land were not facilitated to travel
to Muzaffarabad. "But, according to our information, there is very strict
scrutiny regarding residence and other details of the applicants. If this
practice continues, I do not think even 5 percent of them would be able to
go to Muzaffarabad", he added. [Daily
Dawn 5 March 2005]
|