MUZAFFARABAD, March 14: Thousands of people mobbed authorities on Monday with the issuing of application forms to visit occupied Kashmir, officials said.

Men and women, young and old, formed long queues outside the special counter in the local administration chief’s office, witnesses said.

“We will give 3,000 forms in Muzaffarabad alone,” Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab told reporters adding that another 7,000 forms will be distributed in seven other districts.

“The gathering is too much but we have everything under control,” he said as security was beefed to avert any incident.

Ten thousand forms will be issued to Kashmiris wanting to make the trip but preference will be given to the elderly.

The first jubiliant recipient was 85-year old Ghulam Mohammad Lolabi who lauded both President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “They have joined the separated families after half a century,” he said, adding that Kashmiris want freedom and “the real happiness will be when all the Kashmiris will sit down together.”—AFP