Wednesday, August 17 2005 15:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Signalling easing of travel restrictions on Kashmiri separatist leaders, the Government has allowed former Hurriyat Conference Chairman Maulana Abbas Ansari to travel to Pakistan for attending a Shia conference.

Ansari, who arrived here yesterday (August 16, 2005) evening from Srinagar, left for Karachi this afternoon by a PIA aircraft where he would be attending the conference. He is likely to travel to Saudi Arabia later, informed sources said.

The Government had had in the past denied permission to Hurriyat leaders to travel to Pakistan after one of its leaders Sheikh Aziz had indulged in anti-India propaganda.

The Hurriyat leaders were given the passport before their visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in May this year to facilitate their visit to Islamabad. However, breaching the understanding, Pakistan allowed Hurriyat leaders to travel to Islamabad without stamping their passport.

Last week, founding Chairman of Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umer Farooq also left for Jeddah and later to Saudi Arabia before reaching London.