Srinagar, Nov 6 (PTI) Defending the Centre's decision to ban pre-paid mobile connections in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister for New and Renewable energy Farooq Abdullah today said the ban is temporary and will not last long.

"The decision to ban the pre-paid moble connections was taken under compulsion to check the misuse of the cell phones as a large number of the users have got the connections on other names and addresses," Abdullah, who is the president of ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, told reporters here.

However, he said the ban is temporary and will not last long. "We want the users to come forward and register their connections afresh," he said.

He said the Centre has full faith in the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the decision was taken for the safety of the people.