MUZAFFARABAD, March 20: AJK and Indian-held Kashmir authorities will exchange applications of intending visitors from their respective sides on Tuesday for verification after which permits would be issued to them for trans-LoC journey through the bus service commencing from April 7, Dawn learnt from official sources on Sunday. AJK government has designated Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Liaqat Hussain as ?the authority? to exchange travellers? documents with the Indian officials. India has reportedly appointed the Srinagar?s regional passport officer as ?the designated authority? for this purpose.

Mr Hussain would meet his counterpart on the Indian held soil across the dividing line, some 61 kilometres from here, at around 2 pm (PST) on Tuesday, the sources said and added that it was not known as to who else would accompany him to the other side of the LoC. The deputy commissioner, the sources said, would hand over the list and application forms of 45 persons to the Indian authorities, 30 of whom would be issued permits for trans-LoC travel after clearance by the other side. In reply to a question, the sources said it was not yet clear as to how much time both the sides would consume for clearance and verification of the applications. It would be decided on Tuesday, they added.

Earlier on Sunday, AJK Chief Secretary Kashif Murtaza chaired a meeting at his office to reviewed arrangements for the bus service. Officials said that a temporary checkpoint/bus terminal was being set up in a government building close to the New Civil Secretariat while work on another terminal in Chakothi was also in progress. A revenue department official, Khawaja Ejaz, had been appointed as terminal manager in Chakothi, they added.

AJK PM Sardar Sikandar Hayat would also tour Chakothi on Tuesday to personally inspect the arrangements. A police official told Dawn that they had chalked out security arrangements and a police squad would escort the bus leaving or arriving Muzaffarabad to and from the LoC in Chakothi sector.