Daily Diary (DD) - Day 129 of 2026

0342hrs:

Another false start and I fear there could be a few in a row, judging from how matters are materializing on the ground in AJK. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 128 of 2026

0340hrs:

Yes, this is a false start like many before. Yet, it must be different in an important way too. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 127 of 2026

1325hrs:

Picking up pace in Mirpur.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 126 of 2026

2213hrs:

Moving with intent now, after effectively a month's hiatus. I will restart my ambition to get to sleep at 0300hrs and wake at 0800hrs. I know that - in the main - I have been unsuccessful for the past year of trying.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 125 of 2026

2214hrs:

Still holding back. 

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#NoElectionAJK2026

An inside-out approach to resolving any notion of conflict or territorial claim on Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas) 

جموں کشمیر و متحدہ علاقہ جات کے متعلق کوئی بھی تنازع یا (بیرونی) علاقائی دعوے کے کسی بھی تصور کو حل کرنے کا - ایک اندر سے باہر کی جانب - حکمت عملی

We have moved on from the 'combatting of narratives' stage, to one where we are creating our own future, having also undergone and continuing to introspect. 

ہم 'بیانیوں کی لڑائی' کے مرحلے سے آگے بڑھ چکے ہیں، اور اب ہم اپنا مستقبل خود تخلیق کر رہے ہیں، جبکہ ہم مسلسل خود احتسابی کے عمل سے بھی گزر رہے ہیں۔ 

We identify and are included in those who qualify as descendants of erstwhile (subjects ref. 20 April 1927 SSR) Jammu & Kashmir State. 

ہم ان لوگوں میں شامل اور شمار ہوتے ہیں جو سابقہ ریاست جموں و کشمیر کے باشندوں کی اولاد کے طور پر اہل ہیں (حوالہ: 20 اپریل 1927ریاستی باشندہ اصول)۔

We must be legally and administratively distinguished, to protect ourselves from narratives of claimants viz. China, India, Pakistan; unless any one of us is so voluntarily inclined to favour an external narrative, at the cost of an internal narrative. 

ہمیں قانونی اور انتظامی طور پر منفرد ہونا چاہیے، تاکہ ہم دعویداروں یعنی چین، بھارت اور پاکستان کے بیانیوں سے اپنا تحفظ کر سکیں؛ الا یہ کہ ہم میں سے کوئی رضاکارانہ طور پر کسی بیرونی بیانیے کو اندرونی بیانیے کی قیمت پر ترجیح دینا چاہیے۔

The world has prevented us from exercising self-determination (to use their parlance) and we have also refrained from seeking internal solutions - an inherent right we possess - which has to supersede any external claim (as documented in the UN framework). 

دنیا نے ہمیں (عملی طور پر) خود ارادیت (جو ان کی اصطلاح ہے حقِ ملکیت اور حقِ حکمرانی کے لیے) کے استعمال سے روکا ہے اور ہم نے بھی اندرونی حل تلاش کرنے سے گریز کیا ہے، جو ہمارا فطری حق ہے، اور جسے کسی بھی بیرونی دعوے پر فوقیت حاصل ہونی چاہیے (جیسا کہ اقوام متحدہ کے فریم ورک میں دستاویزی ہے بحوالہ دعویٰ اور حق میں قانونی فرق)۔

Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee JK #JAAC has been most successful to date, since 1947 and even compared to public movements pre 1947, in mobilising the public (of AJK in particular and its diaspora). 

1947

سے لے کر آج تک، اور حتیٰ کہ 1947 سے پہلے کی عوامی تحریکوں کے مقابلے میں بھی: جموں کشمیر جوائنٹ عوامی ایکشن کمیٹی

JK #JAAC

عوام کو متحرک کرنے میں سب سے کامیاب رہی ہے (خاص طور پر اے جے کے اور اس کے تارکین وطن کے تناظر میں)۔

It should not and cannot become a part of the colonial governance set-up in AJK. 

اسے آزاد جموں و کشمیر میں قائم نوآبادیاتی طرزِ حکمرانی کا حصہ نہیں بننا چاہیے اور نہ ہی بن سکتا ہے۔

It has achieved everything it has and will continue to deliver to the public in the short as well as medium and long term, as long as it remains outside this colonial set-up, which has been well designed by Britain: to stifle public interest and most certainly any legal or administrative move towards internal #OBMs or Ownership-Building Measures (ref. Richard Bonney academic quote & critique of Tanveer Ahmed). 

اس نے جو کچھ بھی حاصل کیا ہے اور جو کچھ وہ مختصر، درمیانی اور طویل مدت میں عوام کو فراہم کرتی رہے گی، وہ اسی صورت میں ممکن رہے گا جب تک یہ اس نوآبادیاتی ڈھانچے سے باہر رہے، جسے برطانیہ نے بڑی مہارت سے عوامی مفاد اور کسی بھی قانونی یا انتظامی قدم کو دبانے کے لیے ڈیزائن کیا تھا, جو اندرونی یا ملکیت سازی

#OBMs

کے اقدامات کی طرف لے جائے (حوالہ: رچرڈ بونی کا تنویر احمد کی تحقیق کے متعلق علمی قول اور تنقیدی جائزہ)۔ 

General Elections or Legislative Assembly elections should take place but not before fulfilling the conditions of inclusivity, transparency, meritocracy and accountability; as outlined in the JK JAAC public statement at Maqbool Bhat Martyr's Square in Dadyaal on 31 March 2026.

عام انتخابات یا قانون ساز اسمبلی کے انتخابات ہونے چاہئیں، لیکن اس سے پہلے شمولیت، شفافیت، قابلیت اور احتساب کے شرائط پورے ہونے چاہئیں؛ جیسا کہ

JK JAAC

  کے عوامی بیان میں 31 مارچ 2026 کو مقبول بٹ شہید چوک، ڈڈیال میں واضح کیا گیا۔

JKA PUBLIC AGENCY Note: #EU162304052026

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 124 of 2026

2044hrs:

I didn't lift off today as intended, mainly because of the actual weather, which was stormy and rainy to say the least. Though there can never be an excuse in this line of work.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 123 of 2026

1923hrs:

I think I can safely say that I've finally recovered from a 3 week old 'under-the-weather' ailment. I hope that I can carry this fresh bout of health for at least the next 49 weeks.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 122 of 2026

1841hrs:

Certainly the most important day of the (English 3rd tier football) season. 

Luton Town's promotion push:

Most recent background context

2006hrs: Writing as Luton trail 2-1 away to Bolton on the final day, as we turn our attention to the 2nd half of this highly riveting match. Luton have hit the woodwork 3 times and will continue to have scoring opportunities in this final half of (their game), effectively to end the season, unless they beat Bolton and hope Stevenage remain 0-0 at home to Wigan. 

They have manufactured great momentum over the past 9 games and can overturn the score, with their un-matched belief and fighting spirit. 

I want history to record my ambitions for Luton Town Football Club at this critical juncture, as they have the potential to positively affect our economy in AJK, in the years to come. 

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Update: 2030hrs

With 71 minutes played Luton have pegged back a goal to make it 2-2 while Stevenage are still 0-0. Barnsley have also equalised at home to Stockport (If they win that will also open a door for Luton). All to play for. At this stage and as it stands Luton just need 1 goal for all scores to favour their play-off ambition.

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Update: 2038hrs

At this stage Plymouth would go through at the cost of Stevenage and Luton, as they have overturned a 2-0 deficit to get to 3-2 against Northampton.

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Update: 2052hrs

Into the dying moments and Luton still need a goal!

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Update: 2054hrs

Stevenage have scored!

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Update: 2056hrs

Luton have scored but Stevenage still go through at this rate!

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Update: 2114hrs

So Stevenage confirm themselves as the 4th of 4 teams qualifying for a play-off position, along with Bolton, Bradford and Stockport. 

The table doesn't lie:

Table source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/tables#LeagueOne

Luton Town were relegated last year (tier 2 to tier 3 of the English Football League) as they couldn't muster that single point needed on the last day of the season. This year, Luton have just missed the possibility of promotion back to the Championship (tier 2) by a single point, despite gaining 26 points from the final 30 available this season.

It is a role reversal though (from a negative to a positive mindset), even though this lesson will cost another year in League One (tier 3). Building a culture of winning consistently is what Jack Wilshere has achieved in his first season. This is the best form of preparation for next season.

Well done to Stevenage for fighting till the very end, so patiently and with so little apparent fuel or resources. Their struggle and the way they have approached it has possibly eclipsed Luton's turn-around. That itself is a great achievement for a smaller town in our midst.

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Gilgit-Baltistan on the brink of a biased, non-transparent and dubious election

The government of Pakistan has announced the date of June 7, 2026 for general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is the main unit of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Before the elections, all political and religious parties of Pakistan have been approved to join the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections and to keep the national and political parties of Gilgit-Baltistan out of the election process, as top leaders and candidates of local parties have been arrested here. 

Nationalist and progressive leaders who have participated in the Gilgit-Baltistan 'election process' have been booked under anti-terrorism laws. Their details are as follows:

1) Ehsan Ali Advocate - Chairman People's Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan. Candidate for Constituency 6 (Hunza - Gilgit).

2) Mohammad Nafees Advocate - Senior Leader of Balawaristan National Front. Candidate for Constituency 3 (Danyor - Gilgit).

3) Shabir Hussain Mayar - Member of Gilgit Baltistan United Movement. Candidate for Constituency 5 (Kharmang - Baltistan).

4) Ta-aruf Abbas Advocate - Senior Leader of Karakoram National Movement. Candidate for Constituency 2 (Astore - Gilgit).

5) Abrar Ali Bagoro - Senior Leader of Karakoram National Movement. Candidate for Constituency 2 (Astore - Gilgit).

6) Fida Hussain Iftikhar - Senior Leader of Gilgit Baltistan United Movement. Candidate for Constituency 4 (Rondu - Baltistan).

Several other political leaders and activists were also arrested, to ensure that these nationalist and progressive parties do not get access to the people during the election campaign, less win their respective seats in the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly.

We urge the Government of Pakistan to immediately release these candidates of local and national parties in Gilgit-Baltistan. Thus, opening up the possibility of free, fair and transparent elections being conducted in the territory. We urge the 'powers-that-be' in Pakistan to drop bogus anti-terrorism cases against these candidates and to allow all political parties the necessary freedom to participate and campaign in the elections.

If these local national leaders are prevented from participating, these elections will be considered partial (biased), opaque and a one-sided exercise, without any legal or ethical merit. 

Courtesy: Manzoor Parwana (amongst the most prominent activists of Gilgit Baltistan)

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 121 of 2026

2126hrs:

Not quite ready yet! 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 120 of 2026

2239hrs:

To get to 120 not out (in the first 120 days of 2026) for the first time since daily weblogging began to be applied seriously, in 2018.

There is so much to write about on a daily basis, which I refrain from in the main, so that space is given to my co-citizens to evolve on their own terms in this society. 

As for our diaspora - especially in the United Kingdom - we are heading your way via YouTube live, daily as of tomorrow at 6pm (1800hrs) AJK time, which corresponds to 2pm (1400hrs) in London. Further details will follow subsequently.

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We witnessed another victory in public interest in Dadyaal today, a c. 100km round trip from my hamlet Kokoi in village Gurutta, Sehnsa. Will write more later.

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