Friday, April 8 2005 20:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Visiting the valley after nearly six decades, 30 visitors from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), who arrived by the first bus from Muzaffarabad today (Apr 8, 2005) began their sojourn by paying obeisance at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, before joining their relatives in Jammu and Kashmir.

After spending the night at Centaur hotel, as the guests of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, the visitors this morning went in batches to Hazratbal Shrine, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad and offered prayers.

While relatives of the visitors from Jammu, Baramulla, Uri, Salamabad and Lagma escorted them in waiting vehicles, some of the visitors visiting relatives in Srinagar stayed put at the shrine and participated in the Friday prayers.

There was a festive atmosphere in the houses of those whose relatives have come from across the Line of Control.

A grand reception was organised at the house of Ali Mohammad Rantoo at Jamalatta in downtown city for his nephew and niece who are visiting their ancestral house after 57 years.

When Ferida Ghani and Mehboob Ghani, who hail from Rawalpindi reached the house, the residents of the area showered flowers and sheerni (small pieces of sweets) on them.

It took them more than 45 minutes to cover a distance of 20 metres from the main road to the house, which had got a fresh paint on the eve of their visit.

Every one in the crowd wanted to garland them and shake hands with them. Even the family members could not get a chance to meet them for nearly an hour.

The sister-brother duo pleaded with the media persons to leave them alone, as they wanted to meet their relatives.

The visitors complained that media persons followed them wherever they went and even a trick by a relative to take them by a different route failed, as there too they were hounded by the press.

Mehboob Ghani, who is a writer, welcomed the decision of India and Pakistan to reopen the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. "It is a good step to allow people to meet and there should be no barriers".

"I was wanting to meet my first cousins in Srinagar from the last 35 years but in the absence of visa could not do so. I availed the first opportunity and boarded the first bus to meet my relations," Mehboob said.

Overwhelmed by the reception accorded to the visiting passengers all along the route from Kaman Post to Srinagar, he said, "People had lined up on both sides of the road in Kashmir to welcome us as if we were some VVIPS".

Jammu and Kashmir Government played host to all the 30 passangers. "We were treated as State guests and we spent the night at Centaur hotel".

However, he said that because of dust storm that lashed parts of the city last night he could not see anything during the night.

"I will spend the next 14 days interacting with people to know more about Kashmir, he said.

Asked whether he was scared after the four militants outfits threatened the passengers against travel, Mehboob said that people should not pay heed to the threats held out by militants.

"They (militants) should be prosecuted and handed over to police," he said.

His elder sister, Fareeda, said that by opening the road people can't forget the Kashmir issue.

"Opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and allowing people to meet their divided families can't not solve the problem, Fareeda said, adding Governments of India and Pakistan should take concrete steps to resolve the issue once for all so that people could live in peace.

"We have come here to meet our sisters and brothers but we will not forget the Kashmir issue, which needs to be resolved," she added.

A fresh coat of paint was being given to the adjacent house of Ghulam Nabi, who was expecting relatives from PoK in the next bus scheduled to run on April 22.

At Altaf Syed Bhat's house at Buchpora on the outskirts of Srinagar, the entire family burst into tears when Altaf's elder brother Irashad Ahmed Bhat entered into the house after 45 years.

Bhat said that he wanted to stay in the house for the next 14 days to take control of the arrangements for a marriage ceremony in the house.

The marriage ceremony of his nephew has been advanced by 15 days to enable him to participate and "I want to do my bit to make the arrangements," Bhat said.

He, however, was worried about his family back home saying he has no contact with them, as he could not reach them on phone.

After opening of the road, the two Governments should pay attention to the restoration of phone links between the two parts of the State, Bhat demanded.

He said that his daughter based in the US had advised him not to undertake the visit in view of threats by militants but "I paid no heed to the threat and availed the opportunity to visit my homeland - a desire which could not be fulfilled for the past 45 years."