| Passport for Geelani, unending wait for others | | 7157 passport verification, 1179 LoC permit applications pending | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 7: Even as the External Affairs Ministry, Government of India, has issued passport to hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, nearly 7000 passport applications are pending in J&K.
In reply to a question by PDP MLA from Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, about the number of passport/LOC permit applications pending disposal for verification with police and other agencies, the minister in-charge Home informed the Assembly on Wednesday that as on September 17, 7157 passport verifications are pending disposal.
Similarly, 1179 LoC permit applications of Indian nationals and 2736 permit applications of PoK/Pak nationals are pending for verification at various stages.
In reply to another question about the number of persons denied such clearance and the reason therefore, the government stated that from January 1, 2015 to September 17, 2015, 135 passport verifications have been sent by CID Department as "not recommended".
The government said that from the commencement of LoC travel in 2004 till September 17, 2015, 5675 Indian nationals and 5087 PoK/Pak nationals have not been recommended for travel via LoC, for not being covered under the existing policy. The CID Department refuses to disclose the names of these persons sighting security implications. |
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