From correspondents in Jammu and Kashmir, India, 10:01 PM IST

Terming the decision to ban pre-paid mobile phone connections in Jammu and Kashmir as 'unfortunate and ill-advised', the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Friday sought intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to restore the service in the state.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed surprise that on the one hand the 'union government was claiming that the situation has improved in the state and on the other residents of this state have been denied facilities like mobile services in the name of security threats'.

In a statement, she said 'the decision by the union home ministry negates the statement of the prime minister' and sought personal intervention of Manmohan Singh to restore the service.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram, justifying the decision, has said that pre-paid connections were 'prone to misuse' from the security point of view.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)