Pak stops PoK delegation from visiting Charar

A 14-member delegation of writers, journalists, artists and religious leaders from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir PoK, which was expected to reach India yesterday, was not allowed to cross over in the absence of clearance from their government.

The delegation wanted to visit Charar-e-Sharif in Srinagar to participate in the Urs, and was to be received by Babita Chowdhary, secretary to Nirmala Deshpande, member of the Rajya Sabha along with Bhupinder Singh Sandhu, president of Alami Punjabi Virasat Foundation and others.

Talking to The Indian Express, Sandhu said he did not know why the delegation was denied permission by the Pakistani authorities.

In Islamabad, Bashir Ahmed Andarabi, the head of the delegation, said they were stopped by Pakistani immigration officials at Wagah border, BBC8217;s Urdu service reported.