The Hindu : National : Pakistan not to allow political leaders on bus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 02, 2005

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Pakistan not to allow political leaders on bus

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, APRIL 1 . The Pakistan Government has not agreed to the proposal of sending an all-party delegation of mainstream political parties from Jammu and Kashmir on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus on April 7, it is learnt.

Highly-placed sources said that the External Affairs Ministry had conveyed Pakistan's decision to the State Government.

"The Pakistan Government has said that preference should be given to the divided families for which the initiative has essentially been taken," sources said.

The Central Government had sent the names of some leaders to the Pakistan Government. All the leaders had applied for the Line of Control permit, and necessary formalities had been completed.

Those preparing to leave for Muzaffarabad included the ruling People's Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti, the National Conference president, Omar Abdullah, the Pradesh Congress chief, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, the CPI (M) leader, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, and the Panther Party chief, Bhim Singh.

However, these leaders had made it clear that they would like to travel on a separate bus. "This should not be at the cost of the divided families," Ms. Mufti said recently.

Omar disappointed

Reacting to the decision, Mr. Abdullah said: "It is highly disappointing." "I think this was much needed in improving the relations between the two sides," he told The Hindu .

"If the leaders of India and Pakistan can meet via Wagah, why is the Kashmiri leadership excluded through this artificial border?" "And we are excluded because we do not suit them [Pakistan]," he said.

Observers say that Pakistan's decision has come as a relief to the separatist leadership which would not like the PoK Government according a red carpet welcome to mainstream political parties. Many separatist leaders, including hardliner Syed Ali Geelani, are opposed to the bus service.

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