MUZAFFARABAD: (Parliament Times) Kashmiris living in Azad Kashmir and foreign countries have welcomed the notification issued by federal government giving access to international tourists and citizens to visit AJK.
This important step was raised by MLA Pir Syed Ali Raza Bukhari in the assembly session through a resolution to do away with the condition of NOC for foreigners and international tourists to visit AJK which was approved unanimously by the House. According to notification which was issued on Monday any foreigner could visit any area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir up to 5 kilometers to the LoC.
Bukhari before bringing the resolution to the House had convinced institutions of national security through reasons and logics that opening of AJK to foreigner tourists and citizens would not only promote tourism in the State but it would also send a message to the international community that all the routes to Pakistani administered Kashmir were open foreign tourists and citizens and they were travelling to all corners of the State with all the freedom.
“It would confirm that India had imposed more than 6 lakh military on peaceful citizens of the held valley. No NGO or human rights organization was allowed to enter the valley to find the facts on human rights abuses. Digital media aired timely reports on this important issue” it was observed.
The people of AJK congratulated Bukhari on this historic success and expressed profound gratitude to the federal government for accepting a long demand of the people of AJK. They said Bukhari made remarkable efforts to convince the institutions of national security for ending the condition of NOC for foreign tourists and obtaining approval for Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Rasalat bill.
The students of AJK University paying tributes to the efforts of Pir Syed Ali Raza Bukhari said not only he understands national issues but also remains active to resolve them.
