‘Security’ grounds Mehbooba’s Pak trip

Pakistan has denied visa to People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti for attending a conference to be held in Islamabad from tomorrow. No official reason was given for declining the visa to the PDP leader, report Arjun Sharma and Aurangzeb Naqshbandi.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Sunday she was asked not to attend a conference in Islamabad by the organisers there because of the uncertain security situation.

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When contacted, she said, “I was supposed to visit Pakistan to attend two conferences. While (one) was deferred due to the prevailing (insecure) situation there, the other one was not re-scheduled. However, I was informed by the organisers of the conference that due to the current situation (insecure) in Pakistan I should not visit the country.”

Sources in her party said she had been denied the visa. However, an official in the Pakistan High Commission said she applied for it two days ago, her papers had been sent to Islamabad for processing, and the clearance was awaited.

Naeem Akhter, PDP spokesman, said, “She was informed informally by the organisers of the conference that she should not visit the country due to the prevailing conditions.”

Twelve other participants in the conference, including former Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo and the director of Hindi medium implementation, Delhi University, Asha Gupta, have received the visa and are already in Pakistan.

The conference, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, starts on Monday. Mehbooba was to speak on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the prospects for normalcy in the state.