Pak band Junoon to perform in Srinagar today

SRINAGAR: Popular Pakistani sufi rock band ��� Junoon ��� arrived in Srinagar on Saturday ahead of its scheduled concert on the banks of Dal Lake on Sunday.
The band, comprising guitarist-lyricist Salman Ahmad, vocalist Ali Azmat and Brian O���Connell, are in Kashmir on South Asia Foundation���s (SAF) invitation. The organizers are expecting about 10,000 people to attend the "peace" concert and say it is going to be a "megaevent" .
President Pratibha Patil, who arrived in Srinagar on Friday, Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and governor S K Sinha, are also expected to attend the programme.
The concert ��� the biggest musical event in the region in nearly two decades ��� has particularly enthused the Valley youth, as they made a beeline for getting the passes for the event.
"I have virtually been going from pillar to post to get a ticket for the concert," a college student, Babbar Chowdary, said. He said it was unimaginable, a few years back, that Junoon would ever perform in Srinagar. "The development will bring the two countries closer," he said. "Something great is happening to Kashmir after a long time and we will rock," Arshi Gouse, a 20-year-old student, said.
Meanwhile, terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has asked Pakistan to stop Junoon from performing in Srinagar.
"The performance will have a negative impact on region���s disputed status and send a wrong signal to the international community that Kashmir is India���s integral part," Hizb chief Syed Salahuddin said, adding, "Islamabad should disallow cultural groups like Junoon from performing in disputed territory of Kashmir, where any national or international activity amounts to violation of international laws."