<p>Authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) today suspended the cross-Line of Control (LoC) bus service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road to press for the release of a Pakistani driver arrested by Indian authorities in connection with smuggling of narcotics worth Rs 100 crore.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We were informed by PoK authorities that the Karavan-e-Aman (Peace Caravan) bus service shall remain suspended today. No reasons were assigned," Regional Passport Officer Firdous Iqbal told PTI.<br /><br />The move is apparently a pressure tactic by the PoK authorities who are seeking release of the driver and his vehicle from which 114 packets of Brown Sugar -- valued at Rs 100 crore in international market -- were recovered last week.<br /><br />The PoK authorities have detained 27 trucks and drivers of these vehicles at Chakoti across the LoC since Friday following recovery of the drugs on this side.<br /><br />While one driver has been arrested, 48 other drivers from PoK are also stranded at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre since the stand-off began last week.<br /><br />It is unlikely that cross LoC trade on Srinagar- Muzaffarabad route will commence tomorrow in view of the ongoing row. While the Karavan-e-Aman Bus Service runs on weekly basis, the cross LoC trade is conducted from Tuesday to Friday every week.<br /><br />The passenger bus service was started in April 2005 while the trade began in October 2008. </p>
<p>Authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) today suspended the cross-Line of Control (LoC) bus service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road to press for the release of a Pakistani driver arrested by Indian authorities in connection with smuggling of narcotics worth Rs 100 crore.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We were informed by PoK authorities that the Karavan-e-Aman (Peace Caravan) bus service shall remain suspended today. No reasons were assigned," Regional Passport Officer Firdous Iqbal told PTI.<br /><br />The move is apparently a pressure tactic by the PoK authorities who are seeking release of the driver and his vehicle from which 114 packets of Brown Sugar -- valued at Rs 100 crore in international market -- were recovered last week.<br /><br />The PoK authorities have detained 27 trucks and drivers of these vehicles at Chakoti across the LoC since Friday following recovery of the drugs on this side.<br /><br />While one driver has been arrested, 48 other drivers from PoK are also stranded at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre since the stand-off began last week.<br /><br />It is unlikely that cross LoC trade on Srinagar- Muzaffarabad route will commence tomorrow in view of the ongoing row. While the Karavan-e-Aman Bus Service runs on weekly basis, the cross LoC trade is conducted from Tuesday to Friday every week.<br /><br />The passenger bus service was started in April 2005 while the trade began in October 2008. </p>