Srinagar: J&K Students Association here today wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah and J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to facilitate travel of around 100 Kashmiri Medical and Engineering students to Pakistan. In a statement issued, National General Secretary of Association Danish Lone said that, around 100 Kashmiri medical and engineering students pursuing studies in Pakistan were asked for NOC/ clearance at immigration to study in Pakistan and are stranded in Kashmir.
He said that, students were not allowed to travel to Pakistan through Wagah Border Crossing nor were allowed to travel via Dubai, United Arab Emirates despite possessing all travel documents. Students were supposed to travel back to Pakistan by 17th of March this year, however, they were stopped by Indian immigration authorities as they asked them to provide NOC from MHRD and MHA respectively, he said.
Lone said, on 17th of March this year, a list of 349 citizens from J&K were approved by Ministry of External Affairs. After reaching Attari Wagah Border, students were stopped and told that their list is yet to reach them. The Indian immigration authorities allowed about 124 other passengers in which 81 were from Pakistan and rest were hailing from other states of India. Students from J&K were asked to wait first and later in the evening they announced that they have changed the Policies for traveling from India to Pakistan on 16th of March. Authorities were supposed to inform students regarding new policies of Government of India, but they didn’t. They informed students that only non- student travelers are supposed to get NOC from Ministry of External Affairs, however, Medical and Engineering students are supposed to get NOC from MHRD and MHA as well, he added.
Spokesperson of Association Nasir Khuehami said, since 17th of March, students were stopped from travelling back to colleges and Universities through Wagah Border. On 6th of April 2021, students who were supposed to travel back to Pakistan through Dubai were stopped by Indian immigration authorities at Indra Gandhi International Airport New Delhi from boarding the flight from Delhi to Dubai. The Immigration officer who stopped the students told them that they would be allowed only after they will get NOC from MHRD and MHA as orders from Ministry of External Affairs.
Khuehami added that though Students reached out to MHRD Ministry and NMC, however they denied the permission saying that they do not deal with such cases. MHRD Officials told students there are no such orders neither from Ministry of Home Affairs or from Ministry of External Affairs. Many Students have their final year exams scheduled and even missed their term exams as well. If students are not be allowed to travel to Pakistan on time to attend colleges and universities, they will miss the upcoming exams as well. The future of hundreds of students is at stake, he added.
Khuehami requested Home Minister Amit Shah and J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take immediate steps to resolve the issue on humanitarian grounds & take immediate steps and to make all possible efforts to facilitate their travel to Pakistan via Wagah Border as their colleges and universities opened from May 28. He urged Home Minister and J&K Lieutenant Governor to provide them NOC Clearance and facilitate their travel, so that they won’t loose their precious academic year.
