NEW DELHI, June 25: The kins of Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in occupied Kashmir have voiced dismay over denial of permission to him by the Indian government to travel to IHK by trans-Kashmir bus service. “I feel very disappointed,” said Sheikh Abdus Salaam on hearing that Ministry of External Affairs has denied permission to his nephew and Pakistan’s Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to travel by the next bus to Srinagar, said a news report carried by leading Indian Daily The Asian Age.

He revealed that one of his nephews, Sheikh Farooq Ahmed, has spent Rs50,000 on renovating and painting his house in Srinagar’s Gulshan Nagar area in anticipation of the visit by his cousin Sheikh Rashid.

“I heard about it (denial of permission) at about 5 pm through a television channel and soon thereafter received a phone call from Mr Farooq, who in a choked voice said his heart has been broken,” Sheikh Salaam added.

Excited about the proposed visit by Pakistan’s information minister, the senior Sheikh had told this newspaper earlier, “It would be the greatest day of my life. We are throwing a big and befitting party on his homecoming”, added the report.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman had announced on Friday, “the government has processed his (Sheikh Rashid) application and declined to accord permission to visit (occupied Kashmir) taking into account all relevant aspects involved.”

Sheikh Rashid had said in Islamabad on Friday that Indian refusal to grant him permission to visit occupied Kashmir was quite unexpected for him.

“I was very hopeful. All the preparations were complete. My relatives were anxiously waiting for me. They have called me. They are quite dejected on the Indian refusal,” he added.

The resolution of Kashmir issue was in the interest of both Pakistan and India. There should be no hurdle in the peace process, he expressed adding,” I will endeavour, pray and hope for the resolution of Kashmir issue.”

Meanwhile commenting on the decision of Indian government, a faction of Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, has termed as “unfortunate” India’s denial of permission to Sheikh Rashid to travel to occupied Kashmir by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus.

“It is unfortunate that his (Rashid’s) request to visit family friends and pay respects to his kins buried in IHK has been rejected by the Government of India,” spokesman of Hurriyat Conference Shahidul Islam was quoted as saying on Friday.

Pointing out that the step was “not in good taste”, he said the government should have taken a “considerate decision” in allowing Sheikh Rashid to visit Kashmir.

Talking to a private TV Channel, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Mohammad Yasin Malik has exhorted India to permit Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to visit this part of Kashmir.

JKLF chief has also urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to review the decision and allow Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to travel to IHK to promote the peace process, said the channel report.—APP