Daily Diary (DD) - Day 19 of 2022

2144hrs:

Of course, I am primarily consumed with the Malik Waseem case. This is their third day out in the cold. I felt a lot of anger inside me for 'allowing' this to happen. One always feel there is more that they could have done to prevent matters from getting this far.

In my morning conversation with him it became clear that mounting pressure is developing on him by the administration to make a 'deal' but his response is that why isn't his adversary given a 'deal'? Why is he being uprooted? 

He also has the answer.

There is a new judicial complex being built nearby and that has increased the value of Ratan Singh's land. Land speculators want him out first, knowing that he and his family will resist - and is resisting - and they also know that the other members of the community may not put up such a resistance on their turn. It should be remembered that this is 'evacuee property'. It cannot be sold or commercialised - its occupancy can only be interim - until the evacuee's descendants return or some other amicable solution is arrived at, to the satisfaction of the people of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas. The Indians played ball on 'evacuee property' on that side until the 5th of August 2019 - in general - and as far as one has gathered from anecdotal evidence thus far. However, demographic changes are apace there now, we are informed.  

In short, the 'big fish' want to gobble up the 'small fish' without mercy. The classic contest between strong and weak is in full flow.

This is why the Commissioner of Muzaffarabad Masood ur Rehman (remember him? does Mahmood Musafir ring a bell?) cannot agree with Malik Waseem's story, as pointed out in yesterday's weblog entry. Apparently, some bureaucrats and members of the judiciary have already worked out how much and who is going to benefit from this land grab.

The original Sikh owners are nowhere in the picture. The claiming adversary of Malik Waseem lives in the UK and will profit from acting as proxy. Someone needs to interview him, if possible.

Meanwhile, it may be notable to add that Malik Waseem's father Ghulam Qadir and his paternal uncle Wali Muhammad are retired soldiers of the Pakistani army. They have both appealed for help, protection and justice. In a sea of drowning hope, they have both made a plea to the Pakistani army to intervene:

Father Ghulam Qadir

Uncle Wali Muhammad 

Coverage of Waseem's family issue has expanded to various platforms on social media. Here's an example:

AJK Point (media channel in Muzaffarabad) also made a thoughtful video which cannot be embedded for some reason, despite several attempts. (You can click the hyperlink 'embedded' in the previous sentence to access it though.

In the evening I called Sardar Shameem Sahaab for an emergency meeting on Malik Waseem's issue. Here's a summary of the conversation:

It seems the pressure on Waseem from various quarters has forced him to retract or clarify his statement about India's prime minister. Who else but Irfan Ashraf (remember him from Tehreek e Jawanaan vs. JKNSF in Kotli?) to provide the platform:

Most of us will be able to add 2 + 2 together above.

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As we are on the subject of enforced migrations, let's find time to also explore the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits:

Kashmiri Pandits Observe 32nd Black Day https://t.co/ZOYmAcShE9 via @dailytimespak @manojsinha_ @ashokbhan11 @santoshkashmiri @rraina1481 @MuzzafarShah1 @tarigami @ghulamnazad @HCI_London @RahulGandhi @SheikhAamir_inc @Iftikhar_Misgar @MUHAMMA88520330 @AdvNeelofar

— Syed Nazir Gilani (@JKCHR) January 19, 2022

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Let's change the subject now, or at least some of it. I thought the following Dogri song was striking, inclusive and our geographically distinct identity was clarified. Well done!

Me kali Kashmir di they Jammu da Ghulab da:

I did check the whole video on YouTube. The channel had a distinctly Indian name and the rest of the video had very different themes. This segment took on the national question in a very creative way. For example, she says Pakistan and China dream of it and this is neither Delhi or Punjab! (She couldn't say India for obvious reasons, so the creativity in lyrics was smart. Saying this is not Delhi is effectively giving the same message). Dogra museum and I think the Tawi bridge in the background. Claiming ownership of both Jammu and Kashmir was also interesting I think.

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