PoK authorities restrain their employees from visiting J

Jammu, May 30 (UNI) Despite the opening of the Line of Control (LoC) for the divided families on both sides to meet, the government of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has imposed an undeclared 'ban' on its employees from crossing over.

Under confidence building measures (CBMs) and the peace process, the Indian and the Pakistani governments had allowed members of divided families to cross over to meet their relatives. However, many people, who are government servants in PoK, have been denied permission.

''The PoK government has imposed undeclared ban on public servants from crossing the LoC and thus, we can not come to meet our relatives in Indian side,'' some civil servants of PoK, on whom the restriction applies, told UNI over phone.

This state of affairs was also reported by many people who are visiting their relatives here.

They said that there are no any written instructions or declared order from the Pakistani government or PoK administration but the authorities, in charge, are denying permission.

A dozen public servants from PoK were due to cross from the Uri-Chakoti LoC point three days back, but denied permission at the last moment. All of them had been allowed by the Indian side, official sources here said.

People here are angry over this attitude of PoK government.

''What is meaning of CBMs and peace process if we cannot see our relatives before we die,'' Rehari resident Mohammed Imtiyaz (85) said.

''This is hindering the reunion of divided families living on both sides of Line of Control. It is against humanity also. We people of new genration wanted to be reunite but authorities are creating obstacles,'' said Sakeena Bano from Peermitha area here.

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