07 March 2005	Monday	25 Muharram 1426

MUZAFFARABAD, March 6: Arrangements to run Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service by April 7 have been made. This was stated by AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat while speaking as chief guest at an oath-taking ceremony of the bar association here on Sunday.

The prime minister said the government would start accepting application forms in this connection in a couple of days for which deputy commissioner of Muzaffarabad had been appointed as liaison officer.

"We welcome the bus service despite the fact that it is no substitute of a peaceful solution to the problem as it does not fulfil the actual purpose of the Kashmiris at all," he said. "However, we are thankful to both Pakistan and India for deciding to start the bus service without passport or visa restrictions," said Sardar Sikandar Hayat.

He said the federal government had decided to provide Sui gas to Muzaffarabad and added that it had also agreed to provide a seventh seat to Muzaffarabad in the AJK legislative assembly.-APP