Srinagar, July 30:  Chairman, Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today called for making the cross-LoC trade easy and hassle-free to make it beneficial for people from both sides of divide.
 The Mirwaiz said he will take up the issue of Cross LoC trade with Pakistani establishment during his visit to Pakistan.
 Mirwaiz castigated the mainstream political parties for holding rallies during the month of Ramzan, which according to him results in public inconvenience due to security checks and traffic jams.
 The Mirwaiz said lack of contact between the traders across LoC and absence of communication facilities have badly affected the trade. “We need to strengthen this trade by promoting it,” he added.
 “It is an irony that large portion of cross-LOC trade is still in the hands of non-Jammu and Kashmir traders. It is an economic exploitation of the state and is against the interest of Kashmiri traders for whom the trade was initiated,” he said.
 The Mirwaiz was addressing a gathering at the historic shrine of Hazrat Naqshband Sahab (RA) on the Youm-e-Wisaal (death anniversary) of Ummul Momineen Hazrat Khadija tul Kubra (RA).
 He said: “The cross-LoC trade is not fulfilling the objectives for which it was initiated. It is dying a slow death due to unnecessary intervention of non-state traders and customs department.”
 He said that the cross- loc trade should have been purely run by the state subjects so that the people from both Kashmirs would have immensely benefited from it. “I will take up this matter with Pakistani establishment during my visit to Pakistan,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST