The government has said that it has not yet received the travel application of Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid for travelling on June 30 by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus.
“As far as I know, till now, no such application has been received,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.
Asked whether he would be allowed to come, the spokesman repeated that no application has been received from the Pakistani minister.
Pakistan has said it would forward his name for permission to travel by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus.
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Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid, suspected of running a terrorist training camp, has not yet sent in his application for travelling on June 30 by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, it was officially stated today.
"As far as I know, till now, no such application has been received," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters here.
Asked whether he would be allowed to come, the spokesman repeated that no application has been received by the Pakistani minister.
On whether Rashid would require the entry permit since Parliamentarians among SAARC countries have been exempted from visa requirements for travelling to each others' country, he said
India yesterday said it had received the application of controversial Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed for travelling to Jammu and Kashmir by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus.
"We have received the application which will be processed in due course," an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in reply to questions.
The spokesman comment came following reports from Islamabad which said Pakistani officials had forwarded to the Indian authorities the name of Sheikh Rashid, who intends to visit Srinagar on June 30 amid signals that he might be denied the travel permit.
"This is a test case for India, which claims the
India today rejected Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed's application for travelling to Jammu and Kashmir on June 30 by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service but did not assign any specific reason for its prompt decision announced 24 hours after it received Mr Ahmed's request.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna made a very terse announcement in this regard when he said: "The Information Minister of Pakistan Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had applied to travel on the bus from Muzaffarabad to Srinagar. The Government of India has processed the application and has declined to accord permission taking into account all relevant aspects
Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has not submitted his travel document to facilitate his journey to Jammu and Kashmir by Srinagar-Muzzafarabad bus service.
Informed sources said the forms received from the Pakistani side did not have Ahmad's form despite reports from Islamabad indicating that he had expressed his desire to travel to Kashmir following an invitation from separatist leader and JKLF chief Yaseen Malik.
The sources said travel documents of passengers for the next bus, which will run on June 16, were being scrutinised before giving permits to people living on both sides of Kashmir.
Rashid, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir,
Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid today denied media reports that he has altered his plans to travel to Jammu and Kashmir by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service.
Reports in the Pakistan media that I am planning to go to Srinagar via New Delhi are wrong, Rashid told PTI.
He said he would travel by the Muzafarabad-Srinagar bus service on June 30.
Media reports here said that Rashid altered his plans in response to criticism from some politicians here that he was committing a "sin" by crossing the LoC to travel to Srinagar.
Rashid also said that contrary to earlier reports he would travel by
