GILGIT, July 26: The Northern Areas Home Department has declared 1,000 people ineligible for getting the border pass to visit China in connection with private or business trips. The authorities gave no reason for their decision.

The list included journalists and leaders of various nationalist parties. However, the names of journalists could not be ascertained.

The Northern Areas chief secretary has been empowered to issue border pass to the local people by charging Rs3,000.

Nawaz Khan Naji, Chairman of Balawaristan National Front (BNF), Shujaat Ali of BNF and Mohammed Javed of Karakoram National Movement (KNM) have been declared ineligible for applying for the border pass.

A source in the Northern Areas police department said these individuals had been declared ineligible in the light of the reports gathered by the intelligence agencies.

He added the list had been handed over to the immigration authorities at Sost Customs checkpost for keeping a close vigil on their movement.

The affected people, when contacted, said the decision would create a sense of deprivation and unrest in the region. They asked the government to withdraw this decision.