Tuesday, March 22 2005 19:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Ruling out any ban on travel of separatist leaders, including those from Hurriyat Conference, by the proposed Uri-Muzaffarabad bus service, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed today (March 22, 2005) said a group of delegates from all parties in the State will take the bus to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on April seven.

"There is no ban on the visit of separatist leaders to PoK in the April seven bus service. They, as Kashmiris, have full right to board the bus," Sayeed told the State Assembly during discussion on the resolution of appreciation for reopening of Uri-Muzaffarabad Road.

"I had told Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during my meeting with him in New Delhi recently that we must take an all-party delegation and he had agreed to it," Sayeed said adding, "We have kept the option open for them to travel in the Kashmir bus."

He said as many as 30 people will undertake the first bus service the frequency of which would be increased later to daily.

However, Sayeed hoped there would be no militant attacks or any violence during the bus journey.