HYDERABAD, Dec 22: The federal interior ministry has not till Thursday night granted permission to peace activists who intended to gather at the zero point on the Pakistan-India border on Friday to hold a peace mella there. People from different cities of India and bordering areas are also scheduled to gather on Friday (today) as the programme has been planned by the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy on both sides in connection with expected opening of the railway route of border of two countries in January following initiation of peace process.

Members of the forum including central secretary general of the form Anees Haroon have reached Mirpurkhas where they held a function.

The president of the PIPFPD, Hyderabad chapter, Zafar Rajput said that till Thursday night the forum was not granted permission though efforts were under way to seek permission.

He said Dr Mubashir Hassan, a member of the National Executive Council of the Forum, has been in touch with interior ministry officials in Islamabad.

He claimed that around 250 members of the forum were present in Mirpurkhas and more would arrive from various parts of the province on Friday.

The peace activists including writers, activists of some political parties, NGOs and lawyers would leave for the Khokhropar railway station on Friday from Mirpurkhas and in case they were not permitted to gather at zero point then they would hold a simple programme at Khokhropar railway station.

Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds: The president of the PIPFPD Mirpurkhas chapter, Rais Ahmad Khan told Dawn on Thursday that peace caravan would reach Umerkot district to attend a reception hosted by district government.

He said purpose of the visit is to improve relations between the two countries.

He said that caravan would then leave for zero point to examine available facilities to passengers who would travel through train after opening the border.