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Monday 28 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 59 of 2022

0638hrs:

Day 40 at Martyr's Square Kotli

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Today's wisdom comes from Singapore of yesteryear:


Translation:

When you witness thieves becoming rulers in any city
There can be 2 reasons attributed to (this phenomenon)
Either that country's system is corrupt or the public (of that country)
Are unaware

Lee Kuan Yew (Statesman and founding father of Singapore)

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The Kashmiri Pandits can never be ignored in any present or future discussion on JKA:

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There had to be an update on JKTV too:

 


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I realise that today - Day 40 at Shaheed Chowk - is auspicious on more than one front. The following message in Urdu reminded me:

اللہ پاک شب معراج کے صدقے ہم سب کو صحت وتندرستی عطا فرمائے زندگی و آخرت میں کامیابی عطا فرمائے آمین

Translation:

May Allah bless us all with health and strength on account of Shab e Miraj (literally translates to the Night of Ascent. It refers to the incident of Isra and Mairaj when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was taken to the heavens and brought back overnight during his lifetime). May Allah bless us with success in this life and the hereafter. Ameen.

End of translation....

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It was truly heartening to see and hear my comrades Baba Jaan of Hunza in Gilgit Baltistan, Imran Shan and Ilyas Khalid (both) of Dathote in Union Council Paachot in Rawalakot voice their solidarity for my 'Public Policy Workshop' at Shaheed Chowk Kotli:


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Here's a thoughtful write-up by a young public rights activist in Hajeera:

Social contract and Awami Action Committee

Sardar Mohsin Mumtaz

There are countless taxes - including fuel adjustment - which you might see on your utility bills. On the other hand there is a tax on the purchase and sale of mobile phones, property taxes and hundreds of such other taxes which we directly pay to the State. 

The question is, what does the State give in return?

We have to directly purchase everything from education to health facilities, including even a sachet of Disprin, with our own money. Justice is expensive too, which for the most part is out of the reach of the common people of the State. A respectable citizen is frightened even to walk passed the police station. 

Then where are our taxes utilised?

There are 53 MLAs (local members of the legislative assembly, 6 lent officers from Pakistan, 3 DIGs (Deputy Inspector Generals) and 3 Commissioners in 3 divisions of AJK, 10 Deputy Commissioners in 10 districts of AJK, 32 Assistant Commissioners in 32 subdivisions of AJK, up to 150,000 government employees in total. There is more yet. 'We' also have a battalion of ministers. All the aforementioned are enjoying their status on taxes raised from our masses. 

They have all failed thus far to work for the welfare of c. 5 million people of our State, of which possibly as much as 2 million are in the diaspora world-wide, many of whom regularly send much needed foreign exchange in the shape of remittances, which aid the Pakistani State to keep their country economically afloat. 

There is a burgeoning question mark on the existence of this battalion of 'public' servants.

Do you fear to raise questions about your rights? 

Are you not raising your voices because you think you will be murdered?

Then listen my dear co citizens! 

Graveyards are full of people who were afraid of death.

This paradise on earth has been converted into a hell for our people, by the oppressors and their facilitators. 

Raise your voices against them, write against them, come out onto the roads and play your due role. 

All political parties - in subdivision Hajira of Poonch district - have established by consensus Awami Action Committee against the brutalities, exploitation, looting and plundering of the resources of AJK. 

I urge the people of AJK to establish identical forums in their respective subdivisions too, to counter the lawlessness prevailing in AJK.

End of write-up....

Here's the original Urdu write-up:

عمرانی معاہدہ اور عوامی ایکشن کمیٹی
سردار محسن ممتاز

فیول ایڈجسٹمنٹ سمیت ایسے بے شمار ٹیکسز ہوتے ہیں جو آپ نے اپنے بجلی بل پر دیکھتے ہیں، دوسری طرف اگر موبائل خریدنے اور اس کو چارج کرنے بھاری ٹیکس، زمین خریدنے اور بیچنے پہ بھاری ٹیکس اور بے شمار طرح طرح کے ٹیکسز لیے تو جاتے ہیں لیکن ہمیں ریاست کیا دیتی ہے؟

ہم تعلیم اپنے پیسوں پہ خریدتے ہیں، صحت، علاج معالجہ تو دور ڈسپرین کی بیس روپے کا ساشے بھی ہم بازار سے خریدتے ہیں، مہنگا انصاف، تھانے کچہریوں کے آگئے سے گزرتے ہوئے بھی ایک باعزت شہری خوف کھاتا ہے، پھر ہمارا دیا ہوا ٹیکس کدھر جاتا ہے؟ 

ہمارے ٹیکسز پہ پلنے والے 53 ایم ایل ایز، دو درجن سے زائد سیکرٹریز، 6 لینٹ آفیسرز، ہر ڈویژن میں ڈی آئی جی، تین کمشنرز، دس ڈی سیز، 32 اسسٹنٹ کمشنرز، ڈیڑھ لاکھ سے زائد ریاست کے ملازمین۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ اور ایک وزرا، بیوروکریٹس کی فوج ظفر موج، اگر یہ سب مل کر چالیس لاکھ اکتالیس ہزار نفوس پہ مشتمل اس مختصر آبادی جس میں سے دو ملین تو بیرون ریاست زرمبادلہ کما کر اس فوج ظفر موج کا پیٹ بھرتے ہیں، کہ ویلفئیر نہیں کر سکتے، تعلیم، روزگار، صحت اور دیگر بنیادی انسانی سہولیات نہیں دے سکتے تو پھر ان کے وجود کی وجہ؟ 

کیا آپ یہ سب سوچنے سے خوفزدہ ہیں؟

 اس لیے نہیں بولتے کہ مارے جائو گئے؟

 تو سنو قبرستان ان اربوں لوگوں سے بھرے پڑے ہیں جو اس لیے نہیں بولتے تھے کیونکہ ان کو خوف تھا کہ وہ موت کی گھاٹ اتارے جائیں گئے

اس جنت کو آپ  کے لئے جنھوں نے جہنم بنایا ہوا ہے، ان کے خلاف بولیں، لکھیں، سڑکوں پہ نکلیں، اپنے حصے کا کردار ادا کریں، تحصیل ہجیرہ میں تمام سیاسی جماعتوں کے اتفاق رائے سے بننے والی عوامی ایکشن کمیٹی کی کال پہ لبیک کریں اور اسی طرح کی انجمنیں پوری ریاست کے اندر بنا کر اپنے حقوق کے لئے آواز بلند کریں وگرنہ ہر آنے والا دن بد سے بدتر ہوتا جائے گا، 

سردار محسن ممتاز
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Sunday 27 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 58 of 2022

0937hrs:

Day 39 at Martyr's Square Kotli

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I thought it appropriate to share the following note from a co-citizen of mine. Not least to identify the reasons why public opinion is not being converted into public policy in AJK:

The problem of Kashmir

In today's world there is a name for fraud and by using the word Kashmir people have made Kashmir a commercial market from all sides.

JKLF is working for Pakistan in my view. 

Maqbool Butt's followers talk about the state after 15th August 1947. This is the statement of the leaders of Pakistan. This is the statement of the leaders of the people of Occupied Kashmir. But the state will not be independent, the people of Azad Kashmir have no choice, the so-called Assembly members of Azad Kashmir never spoke on Kashmir issue.

Pakistan is a nuclear country and will never fight or conduct jihad. Even if it does the West will ban it. Now Kashmiris tell me how this state can be free? it is just a system of filling wealth in the stomach and the people have been driven mad by all the leaders.

It is better to give rights to the people of Azad Kashmir in the form of railway line than to eat haraam food.

Given these circumstances, it is good that we can grow new plants from the soil of Azad Kashmir. 

Remember the leaders of Pakistan did not work for Kashmir but for the land.

Shabbir Vains 

End of note....

Above note in Urdu:

مسلہ کشنیر
 
آج  کے حاضر دور میں ایک فراڈ کا نام ہے اور لفظ کشمیر کو استمال کر کے لوگوں نے کشمیر  کو تجارتی منڈی
 بنایا تمام اطراف سے,

جے کے ایل ایف میری نظر میں پاکستان کے لیے کام کر رہی ہے, مقبول بٹ صاحب کے فولور 15اگست 1947کے بعد کی ریاست کی بات کرتے ہیں یہ ہی بیانیہ پاکستان کے لیڈروں کا ہے یہ ہی بیانیہ مقبوضہ کشمیر کے لوگوں لیڈروں کا ہے, اس بیانیہ پر ریاست آزاد نہیں ھو گی, آزاد کشمیر کے لوگوں کے پاس کوئی اختیار نہیں, آزاد کشمیر کی نام نہاد Assembly members نے کبھی کشمیر اشو پر بات نہیں کی,

پاکستان ایک ایٹمی ملک ہے کبھی جنگ نہیں کرے گا اور نہ ہی جہاد, کیوں کے مغرب پابندی لگاۓ گا, Kotli کے Address میں یہ کہنا کے الحاق کرو گے تو حقوق دیں گے, کشمیر کے لیڈروں نے کبھی پاکستان لیڈروں سے بات تک نہیں کی, اب کشمیری مجے بتاۓ کے یہ ریاست کیسے آزاد ہوسکتی ہے, یہ صرف مال اور پیٹ بھرنے کا نظام ہے اور عوام کو پاگل بنایا ھوا ہے تمام لیڈروں  نے,

حرام کھانے سے اچھا ہے آزاد کشمیر کے لوگوں کو حقوق ریلوے لائن کی شکل میں دئیے جایں اور ائیرپورٹ 
بھی hospital اور universities کے نظام کو اچھا کیا جانے,

ان حلات کودیکھتے ہوے اچھا ہے کے شبیر  وینس پاکستان  کے ساتھ الحاق کر کے آزاد کشمیر کی مٹی سے ہم
 نئے  پودے اگا سکیں, پاکستان کے لیڈروں نے کشنیریوں کے ساتھ منافقت کی ہے اور کشنیریوں  کو استعمال کیا اور کروایا کشمیری کے ہاتھ سے ہی, اور یادرہے پاکستان کے لیڈروں نے کشمیر کے لیے کام نہیں کیا بلکے زمین کے لیے کام کیا
                                   
شبّیر وینس

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The following sentence is a summary of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's response to our request for them to provide a lawyer for Malik Waseem. it should also be noted that they didn't call me back despite saying they would (last Wednesday the 23rd of February):

They say we have no authority nor we do that, all we do is document the HR violation.

End of sentence of HRCP....

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Soon after I began the day's proceedings at Shaheed Chowk I encountered the following development:



Some responses to my video above raised concerns about my safety and the prospect of cameras being moved to perform some form of clandestine operation against me. Hence, another video released in the evening to clarify what has happened thus far:


For those of you who cannot read the text of the FB post above:

The evening after the morning

Day 39 at Martyr's Square (Shaheed Chowk) Kotli 

Cameras = Security

Security > Governance

Governance > Economy

Economy > Culture

= Thriving civilisation in Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA)

End of FB post....

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Then another video interview by a local media channel 'Kotli ki Awaz':


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Claire Bidwell has devoted a lot of energy to the 'Kashmir Cause' post August the 5th 2019. I'm glad to provide my input as and when required:


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Babu Singh ex minister in Indian-controlled Jammu & Kashmir Assembly and modern revolutionary of Kathua in Jammu division, the southern most district of JKA, gives his learned opinion on the State of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA):
 

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Saturday 26 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 57 of 2022

1642hrs:

Day 38 at Martyr's Square Kotli

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This is wisdom too!
ہمیں خبر ہے دشمن کے سب ٹھکانوں کی

 شریک جرم نہ ہوتے تو مخبری کرتے

Translation:

We know all the dens and hideouts of the enemy
We would 'blow the whistle' if we were not complicit 

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Sada e Chanar continues its regular coverage of our 'Public Policy Workshop' at Shaheed Chowk. Today it has covered our direct letter to the UK prime minister Boris Johnson:


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From Khwaja Nadeem Aslam of Mirpur AJK, currently settled in the UK:

According to Indian independence act, the sovereignty upon J&K that vested in His Excellency lapsed and with the treaty of Amritsar also lapsed. Unfortunately the CABINET MISSION has either missed to distinguish between those princely states which were sovereign, had surrendered to the crown and were reverted back to the sovereign by section 7 of the Indian Independence Act or the British deliberately kept the loophole to keep newly created two neighbouring countries involved in permanent acrimony. 

SOVEREIGNTY WOULD NOT REMAIN IN VACUUM,IT TRANSFORMED O ZERO HOUR OF 15th AUGUST 1947 TO THE PEOPLE OF JAMMU KASHMIR who lived in this political geography that was created in consequences of the treaty of Amritsar immediately after March 1846 by the donee of the treaty, Ghulab Singh and which extended upon the present three parts Viz Indian Kashmir, Azad Kashmir and northern districts Gilgit Baltistan etc.

The net result is that Hari Singh was not at per with other Rajas, Maharajas and Nawab's. They had sovereignty upon their respective States which the Ruler of Jammu Kashmir (Gulab Singh to Hari Singh) never had. Thus Maharaja Hari Singh had no Locus Standi to accede Jammu Kashmir with any Dominion.

In Urdu:

میرپور آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے خواجہ ندیم اسلم سے جو اس وقت برطانیہ میں مقیم ہیں:
  
آذادی ہند کے قانون کے مطابق مطابق، جموں و کشمیر کی خودمختاری، جو کہ مہاراجہ ریاست کی وجہ سے قائم تھی، ختم ہو گئی اور اسی طرح معاہدہ امرتسر بھی ختم ہو گیا۔ بدقسمتی سے کیبنٹ مشن بھی ان برطانوی شاہی ریاستوں میں فرق قائم کرنے میں ناکام ہو گیا جو کہ خودمختار تھیں، جنھوں نے ریاستی مہاراجے کا قبضہ چھوڑ دیا تھا اور  آزادی ہند کے قانون کی سیکشن 7 کے ذریعہ خودمختار کی طرف واپس جانا یا انگریزوں نے جان بوجھ کر نئے پیدا ہونے والے دو پڑوسی ممالک کو مستقل کشمکش میں ملوث رکھنے کے لئے خامی کو برقرار رکھا۔  خودمختاری خلا میں نہیں رہے گی، یہ 15 اگست 1947 کو جموں کشمیر کے لوگوں کے لیے صفر میں تبدیل ہو گئی جو اس سیاسی جغرافیہ میں رہتے تھے جو 18 مارچ 1846 کے معاہدے امرتسر کے معاہدے کے نتیجے میں پیدا ہوا تھا۔  سنگھ اور جو موجودہ تین حصوں یعنی ہندوستانی کشمیر، آزاد کشمیر، اور شمالی اضلاع گلگت بلتستان وغیرہ پر پھیلا ہوا ہے۔

 اس کا نتیجہ یہ ہے کہ ہری سنگھ دوسرے راجوں، مہاراجہوں اور نوابوں کے برابر نہیں تھے۔ ان کی اپنی اپنی ریاستوں پر وہ حاکمیت تھی جو جموں کشمیر کے حکمران (گلاب سنگھ سے ہری سنگھ) کے پاس کبھی نہیں تھی۔  جموں کشمیر کو کسی بھی تسلط کے ساتھ الحاق کرنا۔

end of Urdu translation of Nadeem Aslam's note....

My response (MR): 

It's a good summary. There is a monarchic argument and a republican argument. Both can proceed. They would need evidence of representative public opinion and a group of politicians who claim to reflect and advocate that public opinion. In short, you need to identify what has been missing for 75 years.

Urdu translation:

میرا جواب (ایم آر):
 
یہ ایک اچھا خلاصہ ہے۔  یہاں ایک بادشاہی دلیل ہے اور ایک جمہوری دلیل ہے۔  دونوں دلائل آگئے بڑھ سکتے ہیں۔  انہیں نمائندہ عوامی رائے کے ثبوت اور سیاست دانوں کے ایک گروپ کی ضرورت ہوگی جو اس رائے عامہ کی عکاسی اور وکالت کرنے کا دعویٰ کرتے ہیں۔  مختصر میں، آپ کو اس بات کی نشاندہی کرنے کی ضرورت ہے جو 75 سالوں سے کیا غائب ہے۔

End of Urdu translation of my response....

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We feature on JKTV on average every other day or three. Today's guests were Sardar Shameem Khan and Advocate Raja Mazhar Iqbal of Kotla Barmoch in tehsil Khuiratta:


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Good to see Baba Jaan in action once again, speaking boldly and humorously about the imminent 'provisional' provincial status for Gilgit Baltistan:


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I was invited to take part in this discussion with primary focus on Gilgit Baltistan. It was a reasonably good discussion but I would advise my pro Pakistani co-citizens to learn to give equal space to other participants.

They are losing the argument with their emotional approach as well as their weak evidence.

Note: The audio of this programme isn't clear until 0:51 seconds


For the ease of the reader and/or watcher of the programme above, I spoke during the following segments of this almost 2 hour programme:

17:30 - 20:52

53:04 - 1:03:35 
(55:18 - Sardar Muhammad Haleem Khan interjects 
57:32 interjects again - 
1:00:26 interjects once again)

1:11:35 - 1:13:00

1:26:50 - 1:29:05

1:53:09 - interjected by Nadeem Naik 

1:53:23 - 1:54:55
  
You can also watch this programme on YouTube:


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Friday 25 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 56 of 2022

1058hrs:

Day 37 at Martyr's Square Kotli

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Today's wisdom is an analysis from one of my co-citizens about the behaviour of Pakistan and Kashmir:


Translation:

Pakistan has forgotten its worth

The State of Jammu Kashmir has forgotten its identity

History is witness that

those nations that forget their identity and their worth 

are destroyed and ruined.

End of translation....

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I had the honour of receiving a visit from Sardar Sagheer Khan - head of his own faction of the JKLF - today, despite the rain:


He and all his colleagues also registered their details on the census register and paid their dues.

Many thanks to all of them.

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Some encouraging news from the United Kingdom. 

It appears the NHS (National Health Service) has begun recognising the 'Kashmiri' community as a category among ethnic communities in the UK. 

This should improve service delivery as well as give traction to 'Kashmiri' as a political identity.


This news was also broadcast on JKTV:


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On the other hand, our university students throughout the territory of AJK - are being hounded and threatened with disciplinary action - for peaceful expression of their aspirations. 

The following circular was released today by AJK University - Kotli, in response to students commemorating the hanging of Maqbool Bhat on the 11th of February:


.... 

The following video is an insight into public opinion in Gilgit Baltistan (GB). It isn't yet clear where and when this clip was captured (we are still trying to establish its origin) but it is obviously recent, as it has the most notable political ally of the ruling PTI government in Pakistan and GB waxing lyrical about Imran Khan's 'vision' and his wholehearted unreserved support for Pakistan's attempt to make GB a 'provisional' province of Pakistan on the 23rd of March 2022. 

Khalid Khurshid is the 'Chief Minister' of Gilgit Baltistan.

As soon as he said that, there was an immediate reaction against this statement from the crowd around him, who began repeatedly chanting that a 'provisional' province is unacceptable!


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I know that much of the world's media's focus is on Ukraine at the moment. I also know that all conflicts impact women and children more than anyone else. Conversely, peace pays most dividends to this very category of human kind:


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So, the rest of the world should be able to sense the gap between public opinion and public policy. Specifically, why the people of JKA are still in bondage:


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Even Raja Zafar ul Haq, 86 year old chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz faction is referring to the people of JKA. That is the public. 

The public is public opinion. 

A representative sample was comprehensively collected over 5 years - between 2011 and 2016 - throughout AJK. 

It then took a further 9 months to extract a summary. 

It has taken a further 5 years to publish the extended research notes and they cannot be published until an academic institution of global repute does not either:

1) Sift through my data and assess/critique the summary I published in July 2017.

2) Read the July 2017 summary and put relevant questions forward, to be answered in the extended research notes.

It is just that I have so much data - that I would need at least a couple of years un-interrupted - to prepare publication.

However, with appropriate questions by an academic institute of global repute, we can possibly complete that in less than 6 months, as it would narrow down what I would need to include.


Here's an Urdu translation of the above note:

یہاں تک کہ پاکستان مسلم لیگ نواز کے دھڑے کے 86 سالہ چیئرمین راجہ ظفر الحق بھی جے کے اے کے لوگوں کا حوالہ دے رہے ہیں۔  وہ عوام ہے۔

 عوام رائے عامہ ہے۔

 ایک نمائندہ نمونہ جامع طور پر 5 سالوں میں - 2011 اور 2016 کے درمیان - پورے AJK میں جمع کیا گیا تھا۔

 اس کے بعد سمری نکالنے میں مزید 9 ماہ لگے۔

 توسیع شدہ تحقیقی نوٹوں کو شائع کرنے میں مزید 5 سال لگے ہیں اور انہیں تب تک شائع نہیں کیا جا سکتا جب تک کہ عالمی شہرت کا کوئی تعلیمی ادارہ یہ نہ کرے:

 1)
 میرے ڈیٹا کو چھان لیں اور جولائی 2017 میں شائع ہونے والے خلاصے کا جائزہ/تنقید کریں۔

 2)
 جولائی 2017 کا خلاصہ پڑھیں اور متعلقہ سوالات کو آگے بڑھائیں، جن کا جواب توسیعی تحقیقی نوٹ میں دیا جائے۔

 یہ صرف اتنا ہے کہ میرے پاس اتنا ڈیٹا ہے - کہ مجھے اشاعت کی تیاری کے لیے کم از کم ایک دو سال بلا تعطل درکار ہوں گے۔

 تاہم، عالمی شہرت کے حامل تعلیمی ادارے کے مناسب سوالات کے ساتھ، ہم ممکنہ طور پر اسے 6 ماہ سے بھی کم وقت میں مکمل کر سکتے ہیں، کیونکہ اس سے مجھے اس میں شامل کرنے کی ضرورت کم ہو جائے گی۔
....

Thursday 24 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 55 of 2022

0926hrs:

Day 36 at Martyr's Square Kotli

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A dose of daily wisdom continues:


Translation:

It is beyond my understanding 
that those who cannot implement 
Islamic commandments on their own bodies
How will they implement Islam over the whole country??

Head of Sharia: Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari (May Allah bless him)  
(at) Urdu Park Delhi 1946

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Journalist Fazal ur Rehman of Smaahni remains up to date:


.......

The following photo is perhaps going a bit too far but gives an indication of the love of my supporters. Che Guevara and Maqbool Bhat went through a lot more than I ever could:


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Remember Asmaad Aslam?


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A very windy day today and we have to combat that on top of everything else:


If you cannot directly read the text of the Facebook post above:

English:

From 1947 to 2022 India avoided collecting public opinion of the people of JKA as they knew they would lose.

From 1947 to 2022 Pakistan avoided collecting public opinion of the people of JKA as they (foolishly) insisted In advance that the people here provide an oath of allegiance.

From 2011 to 2016 an inheritor of this very territory diligently collected public opinion in AJK and an overwhelming majority exposed the bilateral collaboration of both countries.

Now that inheritor has been waiting for 36 days at Martyr's Square Kotli , anticipating the remaining inheritors.

Urdu:

انڈیا نے اس لیے متحدہ جموں کشمیر کے لوگوں سے 1947 سے 2022 تک رائے نہیں لی کیونکہ انکو پتہ تھا کہ وہ ہار جائیں گئے

پاکستان نے اس لیے متحدہ جموں کشمیر کے لوگوں سے 1947 سے 2022 تک رائے نہیں لی کیونکہ وہ بضد تھے کہ پہلے یہاں کہ لوگوں سے وفاداری کا حلف لیں۔

آذاد جموں کشمیر کے لوگوں کی رائے یہاں کے وارث نے ہی 2011 تا 2016 تک لی اور بھاری اکثریت نے دونوں ملکوں کی ملی بھگت کو بے نقاب کر دیا!

اب وہ وارث باقی وارثوں کے انتظار میں ہے 36 دن سے شہید چوک کوٹلی میں۔

End of Facebook notes....

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As much as I try and avoid him, he seems to cross my path, albeit virtually:


Earlier in the day, he (Raja Farooq Haider x. PM of AJK) had made some bold noises about the State of JKA. However, he usually follows that up with a meek apology to the masters who control him in Pakistan. In my opinion, he's more of a liability than an asset:


To paraphrase what he said:

India and Pakistan cannot divide this territory between themselves. The land of JKA is not bait ul maal (war booty) or khalsa sarkar (crown land). He also reiterated his demand that AJK be recognised as the genuine successor state to the Dogra State of JKA. Gilgit Baltistan should be given a AJK like set-up and have confederation-type terms with AJK.  

Haider also reminded the audience that he had categorically informed the senior leadership of his party (PML-N viz. Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz) on the 25th of December 2020 that if they - the party - took any steps to permanently divide the territory of JKA between India and Pakistan, he would be the first to revolt against them.

JKA is not a territorial issue between geographic neighbours but a people's issue, which only the people can represent themselves, to the outside world, he repeated once more to an audience outside Islamabad press club.

Someone encapsulated some of the above in a photo:

Bearing in mind what he says disparagingly about 'bait ul maal' (this term also applies to evacuee property) and remembering what Malik Waseem & family have gone through to remain caretakers of Ratan Singh and Sardar Singh's land in Naluchi Muzaffarabad, it is obvious what he - Raja Farooq Haider - and others in the AJK government and administration think about 'bait ul maal'. A 'free for all' is what he is implying.

Haider's entry at this All Parties Conference was also in line with his Jekyll and Hyde temperament:


....

Here's the Twitter version of the notes from late afternoon in Martyr's Square. Mind, notes on Twitter can be a challenge to squeeze in, even if we split the note in 2: 

1 of 2

2 of 2

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The woes of politically active students in AJK continues:


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The value of culture and the lurking danger of extinction:



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Wednesday 23 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 54 of 2022

0935hrs:

Day 35 at Martyr's Square Kotli

Some words of wisdom a day can also become a daily feature:


Translation:

All ruined nations that have been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an,
not a single one of these nations were ruined because they
abandoned fasting, haj (pilgrimage) or zakat (alms-giving)....

Rather weighing less (goods on weighing scale), bribery, not delivering justice, usurping someone's right, contaminating (food, drink or other material), killing someone unjustly; indeed, if we put it in simple terms it is the duties we owe to humanity (that we neglect and lead to the destruction of nations).

End of translation....

.........

It is understood that Malik Waseem is due to 'appear' before DC Muzaffarabad today, after 16 days of solitary confinement in Raara jail, Muzaffarabad and still without access to a lawyer or legal defence of any kind.

Meanwhile, we are still working hard to get him a lawyer via an human rights organisation of global repute.

Update 1600hrs:

We understood Malik Waseem has been released but under what conditions is yet unclear. I haven't spoken to him yet but have requested sources to ask him to send an audio or written statement on the subject. If need be, we will also summon him to Shaheed Chowk Kotli.

.......

We learn that various newspapers have begun publishing news with reference to the 'Public Policy Workshop' at Shaheed Chowk. Here are a couple of examples from today:



....

It is quite revealing to note the comments on the following Facebook post, in reference to the K2 mountain range and the question as to which country it is located in. All comments unanimously describe it being in Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA). Whereas the outside world have always described it as being a part of Pakistan! 

So much for the fierce contestation of territory:


....

It's always heartening to see my co-citizens amplifying my message on their own initiative and creative urge:

Tuesday 22 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 53 of 2022

0918hrs:

Day 34 at Martyr's Square Kotli


An Urdu translation of the above introspection:

Don't ask about the condition of the Muslim

He is ready to get his head cut for the Masjid
but he is not ready to bow his head in the Masjid

He begins whirling as soon as he hears the name of the beloved prophet (of Islam)
but he disappears as soon as he hears the command of the prophet

He says that in every vein of his is the prophet
but he prays Salaat in the week only occasionally

End of translation....

.......

Our transmission was early today, in light of Rauf Kashmiri Sahaab of Palandri's visit:


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A song by Labi Siffre with meaning relevant to Shaheed Chowk Kotli AJK - the last bastion of a free, independent and neutral Jammu Kashmir & Allied territory (JKA):


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Update 1620hrs:

The security of any State in the world including JKA relies on its public (on its people). 

First things first.....our people are not understanding the concept of Public Assembly, so how can they represent their opinion to the world?

AJK Public Agency is on a trajectory that covers 99% of the population of AJK and at least 51% of the rest of JKA....

Let us think together.....at Martyr's Square or Shaheed Chowk in Kotli.

Jo dar gaya samjho mar gaya...(trans. Whoever is in fear is as good as dead)

An Urdu translation of the above is as folows:


JKA سمیت دنیا کی کسی بھی ریاست کی سلامتی اس کے عوام (اپنے لوگوں پر) پر انحصار کرتی ہے۔

 سب سے پہلی بات ..... ہمارے لوگ عوامی اسمبلی کے تصور کو نہیں سمجھ رہے تو وہ اپنی رائے کو دنیا کے سامنے کیسے پیش کر سکتے ہیں؟

 اے جے کے پبلک ایجنسی اس راستے پر ہے جو آزاد جموں و کشمیر کی 99 فیصد آبادی اور کم از کم 51 فیصد باقی جے کے اے پر محیط ہے۔

 آؤ مل کر سوچتے ہیں کوٹلی کے چوک شہداء چوک پر۔

 جو در گیا سمجھو مار گیا...
......

Update 1630hrs:


Khaliq Shehdai of Panaag Sharif in Kotli and Muhammad Yasin of Dhanwa near Goi in Kotli at Martyr's Square Kotli - AJK in JKA

Update 1700hrs:


20 year old and 50 inches tall is Zoheb of Kala Pang Peeran Bhedi - 'Chota Don' they fondly call him...He also contributed 10 rupees to AJK Public Agency.

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Update 1732hrs:

We need a large digital counter (a screen for counting the balance of AJK Public Treasury) in real time.

Then, we found love on a stone today:

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Update 1800hrs:

Most of us want the world to move at our pace but the world always has other ideas.

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Update 1844hrs:

What is government? What are Public? What is direct democracy? What is autocratic constitutionalism to democratic constitutionalism?

......

Another update on Malik Waseem by journalist Fazal ur Rehman:



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We received solidarity and obtained crucial intervention on the AJK administration issue of yesterday, from Bradford in the UK today. Many thanks to Zahoor Ali:


.......

Monday 21 February 2022

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 52 of 2022

0956hrs:

Day 33 at Martyr's Square Kotli

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Update from Shaheed Chowk at 1020hrs:

The Assistant Commissioner of Kotli just visited me at the Chowk and threatened to get me removed from the Chowk, if I don't leave voluntarily.

We understand from sources within the AJK government that the Defence Minister of Pakistan is applying pressure on the Kotli district administration to remove me as soon as possible.

My stance is that the District Constitutional Conciliation Committee comprising of 5 MLAs and 5 prominent nationalists of the district sit and listen to my stance.

Whatever they vote in the majority I will abide by. Otherwise, I am staying put in Shaheed Chowk.

If I am forcibly removed I will conduct a hunger strike till death.

I know that India and Pakistan want to permanently divide JKA between themselves as soon as possible.

Over my dead body I say.

End of note....

An Urdu translation of the above note:

شہید چوک کوٹلی 10:20

اسسٹنٹ کمشنر کوٹلی ابھی ابھی شہید چوک میں میرے پاس آیا اور مجھے دھمکی دی کہ اگر میں خود یہاں سے نہیں اٹھا تو طاقت کا استعمال کر کہ مجھے یہاں سے اٹھا دیا جائے گا ۔

آذاد جموں کشمیر کی حکومت کے اندرونی ذرائع سے ہمیں پتہ چلا ہے کہ پاکستان کا وزیر دفاع ضلع کوٹلی کی انتظامیہ پر مجھے جلد از جلد شہید چوک کوٹلی سے اٹھانے کے لئے پریشر ڈال رہا ہے۔

میرا نقظہ نظر یہ ہے کہ "ضلعی آئینی مصالحتی کمیٹی" جو کہ  پانچ ایم ایل ایز اور  ضلع کے پانچ نمایاں آذادی پسند پر مشتمل ہے، میرے ساتھ بیٹھیں اور میرا نقظہ نظر سنیں۔

جو بھی وہ اکثریتی فیصلہ کریں گئے میں اس پہ عمل کروں گا۔ اس کے علاوہ، میں شہید چوک سے نہیں اٹھوں گا۔
اگر مجھے طاقت کے زور پر اٹھایا گیا تو میں تادم مرگ بھوک ہڑتال کروں گا۔

میں جانتا ہوں کہ انڈیا اور پاکستان جموں کشمیر اور متحدہ علاقہ جات کو جلد از جلد مستقل طور پہ  تقسیم کرنا چاہتے ہیں جو کہ میری صرف موت پر ہی ممکن ہے

......

Many of my co-citizens immediately got to work to spread their concerns about the behaviour of the AJK government. Here is a notable example:  


On Twitter:
  

A good point emerged from the above:
  
Translation of above tweet:

We should conduct an all out strike (peaceful demonstration) against the Assistant Commissioner (Kotli), otherwise what is the meaning of a 'free' State? (AJK is described as the 'free' part of the State of Jammu & Kashmir).
  
.........
 
Thank you Facebook for bringing up apt memories:


..............

Here's the all important discussion on what happened this morning and its after effects. A summary in English is also included at the end:


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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 78 of 2024

0450hrs: I've been working continuously since waking up at 1400hrs yesterday. Yes, I will go to sleep at some point and will also notify...