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Friday 31 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 31 of 2020

0045hrs:

Burning the midnight oil as I prepare for Leepa. 

Please bear the following 2 links in mind, as we have some history:


Exhibit 1 of 2


Exhibit 2 of 2

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As suspected, I was swarmed by Pakistan's agency operatives at Reshian, enroute to Leepa. After a verbal tussle with them, I insisted that they need to refer to the local administration if they have any issues. I reminded them repeatedly that they had no legal standing here. 

The Head Constable of the AJK police at Reshian checkpost was Zameer Ahmed who politely asked me to postpone my visit for just a couple of days to let the weather clear further and that I should work in other subdivisions in the meantime. As I cannot ignore what my co-citizens ever suggest to me, I decided to return to Hattian and continue my work there:



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Thursday 30 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 30 of 2020

2230hrs:

At the most critical point in our 38 day AJK wide tour of the 32 subdivisions of the territory. 

We had brief respite in the capital this evening as we conducted our proceedings in subdivision number 23 Pateeka earlier in the day:



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We are now preparing to proceed to Leepa, possibly the most precarious journey yet and with as little resources as we've ever had during this incessant journey. 

We have 9 subdivisions to cover in just about 9 days.

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Wednesday 29 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 29 of 2020

2110hrs:

We've reached Pateeka, our 23rd subdivision on the go! 

We should have conducted our work here earlier in the day and are thus just slightly behind schedule. We are playing catch up once again and on this occasion we have our work cut out because some of the due subdivisions to visit are not only quite far apart from each other but the weather will most certainly be a factor too.

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Here's another powerful Urdu statement in public interest by a co-citizen. I couldn't have expressed it better myself:



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Here's a video summary of our work in Athmaqam earlier in the day:



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Tuesday 28 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 28 of 2020

1945hrs:

Have completed subdivision 21 earlier today:


If you can't read the text of the FB post above:

A few minutes ago....deep apologies to our esteemed audience in Delhi for not being able to present an internal J & K narrative on Sharda at the appointed time yesterday.

This was despite making all due efforts to get here in time.

We took a 200km long detour on our - AJK wide journey across all 32 subdivisions of the territory - on Sunday, from Bagh at 12 noon but couldn't reach Sharda before 6pm yesterday (Monday).


A video apology has also been made and will be available soon...

End of text in FB post...

Just a little behind schedule for subdivision 22, which is Athmaqam.  

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Here's the second and more relevant video of Sharda on this AJK wide tour in reference to 'The People's Assembly:



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Monday 27 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 27 of 2020

0649hrs:

Got stuck in snow yesterday on our descent from Sudhan Gali and didn't look likely to make it anywhere at one stage. 

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We did make it to Sharda after all but not before the day had faded:



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Sunday 26 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 26 of 2020

0908hrs:

Proceeding from Bagh to Sharda today. A long journey of over 200 kilometres and.....


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Saturday 25 January 2020

Friday 24 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 24 of 2020

2322hrs:

Leaving it late once again......

The good news is that I am back on track and on course to complete my public interest targets by the 9th of February. Abbaspur was the venue today on Day 22 of our tour:



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Thursday 23 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 23 of 2020

2345hrs:

Hajeera has always been electric. It has also - true to form - put me back on schedule on Day 21 of our 38 day AJK wide tour.

The amount of public participation here was also true to form and the public here didn't disappoint.

Here's the video:



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The think the title of the following video says it all:



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Wednesday 22 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 22 of 2020

0810hrs:

A cold night but a warm room in Thorar. Feeling fresh and invigorated for the many challenges ahead.

We did manage to complete our 7 targets here in Thorar before proceeding to Rawalakot at c. 1400hrs (2pm). Of course some of the work due in Rawalakot had to be spilled over into day 23 of this year (and day 21 of the People's Assembly tour):


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Tuesday 21 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 21 of 2020

1643hrs:

Just reached Thorar about 15 minutes ago. It was treacherous terrain between here and Mong.



We are behind schedule in terms of subdivisional activity pending but still on schedule date wise.

Thanks to the aspiring citizens of Mong who addressed our vehicle's distress this morning, promptly and proactively. They dealt with a punctured tyre, a non functional diesel heater (hence unable to start vehicle and if that wasn't enough; they also put 10 litres of diesel in our vehicle to ensure our onward journey.

Here's the video update:



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Monday 20 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 20 of 2020

0327hrs:

No, I can't sleep because there is so much to do in so little time. 

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Our work in Mong took us 2 days to complete, given the inclement weather and vehicle woes that are attached to our work:



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Sunday 19 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 19 of 2020

1854hrs:

Dadyaal is where we're spending our rest day yet again........I'm also fighting a whooping cough, a blocked nose, blocked ears and an intermittently high temperature.

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The DW interview with Pakistan's prime minister has generated a conversation, particularly in reference to Pakistan's position on Kashmir: 




Here's some clarity on this conversation from a day before, to make up for the lack of clarity in Imran Khan's response to DW:




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Saturday 18 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 18 of 2020

2239hrs:

I could so easily have forgotten today's entry. 

Palandri was possibly the most productive of the 14 subdivisions visited so far:



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I've been trying to explain this concept to our people in #AJK for the last so many years.




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Friday 17 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 17 of 2020

1344hrs:

In Trarkhel. Possibly the coldest subdivision in AJK; although Sharda, Leepa and Khursheedabad may compete on that count. All 3 are still due to visit on this whirlwind tour to erect the People's Assembly.



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When any of my co-citizens take the initiative, we can go very far:




For those of you who cannot read the programme description above, here it is:

POORA SACH, The Whole Truth

SUNDAY 19 January 6pm UK time


Conversation with Tanveer Ahmed, the founding and leading architect of the Public Agency and Peoples Assembly Campaign in 'Azad' Jammu Kashmir, the Pakistani administered part of the divided state of Kashmir.

End of FB post description....

(Update: 21/01/20 at 1829hrs):

Unfortunately, the programme described above could not be conducted as our co-citizens in the diaspora - who pursue public interest for AJK - face the same dilemma that we here do. That is: a lot to do in the limited time available. Thus, sometimes programmes cannot be conducted according to schedule because our public has yet to reach that stage of evolution whereby public interest is institutionalised. This is a ful-time job which needs many full-time employees, both at home and abroad. 

We will get there eventually and this postponed programme will also be re-scheduled within the next few days.

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Thursday 16 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 16 of 2020

0958hrs:

Proceeding to Baloch.......still on schedule despite all the hurdles in between.


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Now, this is what I call lying through one's teeth:




Here's the specific clip within the interview where our Western neighbour's political leader simply copies all his predecessors by pretending that his country is the epitome of flexibility when it is actually the master of intransigence. This is the posture that has destroyed Pakistan. It seems IK is no different:



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Check out Pakistan's share:



It is 0.13%. Now, compare that to Bangladesh at 0.19%, India at 3.5% and China at 17.7%. The figures for Afghanistan are not available.

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Wednesday 15 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 15 of 2020

0402hrs:

1/24th of 2020 is already almost over. 

We travelled through 4 subdivisions yesterday and have yet to sleep...... 

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This is home. It is also Jammu Chowk:



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Tuesday 14 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 14 of 2020

0800hrs:

Woke at half past 7 in Kotli. I have a flu and sore throat after drifting from one end of Kotli city to the other in the rain yesterday. We are now proceeding to Nikyaal, an even colder climate. Let's hope for the best!

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(Updated: 17/01/20 at 1359hrs)

This is the first of 2 video segments made in Nikyaal on this date:



Followed by:



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(Update: 19/01/20 at 2044hrs):

We thank DW for their continued attention to this hitherto marginal territory in the global landscape:




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Monday 13 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 13 of 2020

0938hrs:

We are into our 11th day and 9th subdivision (Kotli). Our engine snapped its timing belt for the second time in just over 2 months in Khuiratta on the day before yesterday.

This automatically puts us in a fix because it complicates our daily movement, adds time and distance to our travel, not to mention the extra expenses incurred.

I am also behind in conciliating data, though I have covered most ground on our rest day yesterday in Dadyaal.

It is difficult but not impossible.

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Here's our daily video update. We couldn't complete the video becuase our camera's battery had run out and the charger for it was still in Khuiratta:



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Sunday 12 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 12 of 2020

1158hrs:

Given the breakdown of our vehicle just as we left Khuiratta yesterday, rather than proceeding to Kotli - as per our tour schedule - we came back to Dadyaal to recuperate.

We have almost all the world's odds against us to achieve our public interest target of conducting our inaugural session of the People's Assembly in our capital on Sunday the 9th of February.

Let's begin from within and then proceed to the outside world, as opposed to looking for inspiration or apportioning blame to others:


Friday 10 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 10 of 2020

1350hrs:

In Charoi today....and it is a very welcome bright day...whereby the Peer Panjaal mountain range is also glistening across the LOC.





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Welcome to our world:



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Thursday 9 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 9 of 2020

1110hrs:

A whirlwind journey yesterday too. We came across a few hurdles but managed to overcome them with sheer grit and timely assistance from the public. We will get there but just need to keep a track of the journey as it progresses from one subdivision to the next.

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A subdivision so small that it barely has a local administration but nevertheless:



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Wednesday 8 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 8 of 2020

1106hrs:

Life is on full throttle almost, as we seamlessly drift from one subdivision of AJK to the next. There is a lot that can be managed in 24 hours, even in such a society damaged by needless conflict by its neighbours.


On my morning walk, I thought I 'd capture this view for its green texture against the sun. Its a pity that my other phone with 41 megapixels is still under repair. As with life in general, you make do with what you have. 



Smaahni

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Freedom lessons continue:





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The People's Assembly discussion is getting more and more interesting and invigorating by the day:



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Tuesday 7 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 7 of 2020

1159hrs:

Barnaala is where we are at. No electricity since we arrived yesterday evening, except that it has just returned a few minutes ago. 

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Being consistent is crucial:



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Monday 6 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 6 of 2020

0940hrs:

Bhimber it is on Day 4 after a rest day in Mirpur on Day 3.



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I like this, minus the grammar!



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Sunday 5 January 2020

Saturday 4 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 4 of 2020

1650hrs:

Day 2 of the People's Assembly AJK wide tour brought us to Mirpur this morning..



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Friday 3 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 3 of 2020

1346hrs:

Yes, it is non stop from here, in almost every sense:




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Watch this space:


Here is the schedule:

1) Dadyaal - Friday the 3rd of January 2020
2) Mirpur - Saturday the 4th of January 2020 

Sunday the 5th will be a break day in Mirpur

3) Bhimber - Monday the 6th of January 2020
4) Barnaala - Tuesday the 7th of January 2020
5) Smaahni - Wednesday the 8th of January 2020
6) Darlya Jattan - Thursday the 9th of January 2020
7) Charoi - Friday the 10th of January 2020
8) Khuiratta - Saturday the 11th of January 2020 

Sunday the 12th will be a break day in Kotli

9) Kotli - Monday the 13th of January 2020
10) Nikyaal - Tuesday the 14th of January 2020
11) Sehnsa - Wednesday the 15th of January 2020
12) Baloch - Thursday the 16th of January 2020
13) Trarkhel - Friday the 17th of January 2020
14) Palandri - Saturday the 18th of January 2020 

Sunday the 19th will be a break day in Palandri

15) Mong - Monday the 20th of January 2020
16) Thorar - Tuesday the 21st of January 2020
17) Rawalakot - Wednesday the 22nd of January 2020
18) Hajeera - Thursday the 23rd of January 2020
19) Abbaspur - Friday the 24th of January 2020
20) Bagh - Saturday the 25th of January 2020 

Sunday the 26th will be a break day in Bagh

21) Athmaqam - Monday the 27th of January 2020
22) Sharda - Tuesday the 28th of January 2020
23) Pateeka - Wednesday the 29th of January 2020
24) Leepa - Thursday the 30th of January 2020
25) Hattian - Friday the 31st of January 2020
26) Chikaar - Saturday the 1st of February 2020 

Sunday the 2nd will be a break day in Chikaar

27) Mumtazabad - Monday the 3rd of February 2020
28) Khursheedabad - Tuesday the 4th of February 2020
29) Haveli - Wednesday the 5th of February 2020
30) Harigel - Thursday the 6th of February 2020
31) Dheerkot - Friday the 7th of February 2020
32) Muzaffarabad - Saturday the 8th of February 2020

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Thursday 2 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 2 of 2020

1055hrs:

We are already into the second day of 2020. We must realise the value of time before it is too late. 

We are motoring on....here's the sticker which will begin to be seen in public places throughout AJK imminently:



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Wednesday 1 January 2020

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 1 of 2020

1334hrs:

Its a different day and a different year too, as is the case once a year. Our routine has also changed for the better......let's hope it continues....

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It is obvious that the State of Pakistan has a lot on its plate. Much more than it can chew and we hope the international community is cognizant of that:



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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 87 of 2024

1550hrs: So, I did manage to expunge the all-nighter theme of living in Ramadhan. Slept at 2230hrs yesterday and got up at 0400hrs today, fe...