117 civilians including Pakistan MLA cross LoC

Jammu, Nov 21: A total of 117 civilians including a member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Chakkan-Da-Bagh by Poonch-Rawalakot bus service.

Sources said Showkat Ali, MLA for Jhelum in PoK Assembly, reached the Indian side via Chakkan-Da-Bagh yesterday after boarding the Rawalakot-Poonch bus service.

The PoK MLA was received by former minister and National Conference MLA, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Congress leader Sain Abdul Rashid and district officer SICOP, Poonch, Matloob Khan.

Sources said the number of civilians who crossed LoC from PoK to this side was more than the persons who cross over to PoK from here, as 82 civilians came to this side from PoK while 35 went to PoK from the Indian side.

Official sources said out of 82 civilians, who reached the Indian side from PoK, 53 were fresh faced while 29 were returnees to their home after completing a month-long or a fortnight stay with their divided families and relatives in Pakistan.

Among 35 civilians, who went to Pakistan from Poonch, only five were first-timers while 30 others were PoK citizens, who returned to their houses on completing their stay across LoC.

UNI