Daily Diary (DD) - Day 212 of 2025

0821hrs:

37 hours and 21 minutes into my latest hunger strike. Except this time I am joining 2 other co-citizens, namely Ayaz Butt & Zubair Bhatti who have both been on hunger strike for 5 hours longer than me. 

Thus far, there doesn't seem to be any anxiety being displayed by the 'system' but if there is no resolution by tomorrow at noon (Fri 01 Aug 2025), then we will close Abshaar Chowk to all traffic. Subsequently, we will move on to Plan B, C, D etc. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 211 of 2025

0345hrs:

Already 8 hours and 45 minutes into my latest hunger strike. This time it is a bit different. I am not alone and not even the first to conduct this particular hunger strike. 

I am the third and I started 5 hours later than them. Ayaz Butt began his hunger strike in jail yesterday at 1400hrs and he was joined outside by Zubair Bhatti at the same time. The latter has also been conducting a sit-in protest on behalf of Ayaz Butt at Abshaar Chowk, since the 25th of June. 

I joined them in the evening at 1900hrs.

I did try to sleep at 2000hrs and didn't fair too badly, even though I've been lying on a simple floor mat on the street at Abshaar Chowk. That is, until the heavens burst with rain at c. 0200hrs.

At almost 0400hrs it is still raining, less intensely though. 

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:آبشار چوک کوٹلی اور  ڈسٹرکٹ جیل میں جاری بھوک ہڑتال کے دو بڑے مطالبات ہیں

1) 

ایاز بٹ کی غیر مشروط اور باعزت رہائی۔اس گرفتاری کے بارے دو مختلف جج صاحبان نے 4 جولائی اور 26 جولائی 2025

کو سر اجلاس رولنگ دی ہے کہ یہ مقدمہ بنتا ہی نہیں۔ جب مقدمہ نہیں بنتا تو بندہ جیل میں کیوں؟

2)

آزاد جموں و کشمیر کی حکومت سے عوام کو ضمانت چاہیے کہ آئندہ کسی ریاستی کی تقریر و تحریر، نقل وحرکت کرنے، تنظیم سازی، اجتماع سازی اورجہاں مقامی قوانین ناکافی ہوں وہاں بین الاقوامی قوانین تک رسائی پر کوئی بیرونی، غیر قانونی ،غیر آئینی حوالداری مداخلت نہیں کی جائےگی۔

JKA PUBLIC AGENCY Note: #U064830072025

The Urdu note above can also be accessed on Facebook

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 210 of 2025

1311hrs:

The past 24 hours were markedly more productive than the preceding set of 24 hours over the past week or so, since I made a solid intention to change my sleeping pattern from 2000hrs (8pm) to 0300hrs (3am) from hereon.

Last night, I did 'hit the sack' at 2000hrs but was woken intermittently by a high fever in my youngest child Shams-Udeen until around midnight. Thankfully his temperature came down gradually and I was able to sleep until 0430hrs. One and a half hours later than intended but much better than the previous days referenced above.

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I got to work on the following issue, very close to home:

Notice from Tehsildaar to me ref 15/07/2025

Notice from Tehsildaar to me ref 30/07/2025

This is a classic example of money talking and an extractive system at work. Earn your money abroad and come and feed it to the corrupt system of governance in AJK.

Here's my response:

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

Here are the photos referenced in the letter:

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Let's see what transpires hereon, on this matter. Do watch this space.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 209 of 2025

2042hrs:

Last night was another difficult one, even though I had spent of the day at home, working away furiously. In the late afternoon I had to visit Sehnsa and couldn't return before my sleeping time of 2000hrs.

I began drifting away (to sleep) at about 2230hrs but didn't switch off till beyond midnight. 

I didn't wake up till 0800hrs, 5 hours behind schedule already. 

It was a productive day in Gulpur and I'm writing this entry as my last activity of the day....admittedly now over 48 minutes behind schedule (as I write). 

Here goes....

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 208 of 2025

1148hrs:

My dinner wasn't ready till about 2000hrs yesterday evening, when I should have hit the sack. It wasn't my family's fault as they had accompanied me to Kotli during the day and obviously returned along with me as we reached home at about half past 6 (1830hrs). 

I did try and sleep from 2200hrs onwards once my food was digested but still struggled to sleep before midnight. 

I couldn't get up before 0900hrs.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 207 of 2025

2126hrs:

Still learning. Need to too. One cannot succeed otherwise. 

Yes, I did hit bed at 2000hrs on the dot but was too restless to sleep for many hours, though I did keep my environment dark and rarely left the horizontal position and kept my eyes closed. 

Yet, I still managed to sleep till 0700hrs.

I need to work much harder. 

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Today was an engaging environment in district courts complex Kotli. 

There are plenty of notes to share on our insistence on reversing the bail order of Ayaz Butt. 

The latter has always insisted, even before he got arrested on the 15th of June, that he will not take bail and add legitimacy to the Pakistani State's illegal presence in AJK. 

'Trusted sources' as quoted in the FIR cannot be Pakistan's clandestine agencies in this territory. 

We - the people - are the owners (Maalik), inheritors (Waaris), assurers (Zaamin) & protectors (Muhafiz) of the territory of AJK. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 206 of 2025

1454hrs:

Another failed attempt at developing a sleep pattern between 2000hrs and 0300hrs. I will most certainly keep on trying until I succeed.

I didn't even get home till c. 2030hrs today and dinner wasn't ready until an hour later. I then had to wait till c. 2300hrs for my food to properly digest. Inevitably I couldn't get up before 0800hrs.

Another novel (peaceful) attack on the Hawaldaari system (Clandestine roving Pakistani agencies trying to control each and every aspect of public life in AJK), took place in Kotli today.

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Today some headway was made in the formation of 'The International Committee for Political Prisoners - JKA'. Here's the opening text followed by an embedded website link:

Announcement:

The International Committee for Political Prisoners - JKA began working on the 20th July 2025 after an All Parties Conference in Kotli city AJK a day earlier, involving 15 different public and political entities operating in the territory. 

International Law (Aspiring for a global rules-based ethically responsible order, applicable without exclusion or favour towards any political entity anywhere in the world):

It believes that under international law no country outside the territory of Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas) or JKA has a sovereign right to administer any part of this territory, without the express will of the people who have inherited this territory from an hitherto autocratic local governing structure in 1947, operating under the suzerainty of the British colonial empire. 

Background:

None of the countries - openly or tacitly - making a claim to this territory since 1947, have taken the initiative to ascertain that express will of the people referenced above. 

Over the decades since 1947, many an inhabitant and inheritor has faced the ire of these claimants for expressing their will; facing torture, socio-economic ostracism, imprisonment, exile and even death in certain cases. 

Present (Now):

In the face of a rapidly engulfing public political awakening in the territories of 'Azad' Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) - especially since 2019 - there has been a distinct increase in targeting of public activists adopting strictly peaceful means of expressing their will on their immediate present and future, in both AJK and GB. 

We have thus decided to centralise the documentation in a real-time and sustainable manner, of these illegal attempts to silence the very legal basis of these aforementioned countries, to justify their sovereign claims over JKA. 

Structure of Database:

This online database will provide a snapshot table (in as real-time as possible) of how many aspiring citizens of AJK, Gilgit Baltistan, Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh have been imprisoned or abducted; with dedicated statistics for each region. 

This will be followed by a profile by profile explanation of the circumstances and status of each detainee. 

Shape of the International Committee:

1) A main body of activists (eventually numbering over a 100 members with both local and diaspora representation) representing each and every socio-political organisation in the whole of JKA, in the pursuit of representative character and inclusion of all strands of socio-political thought. 

They will work with an aim to keep the whole public briefed about the ongoing activities of the 'International Committee for Political Prisoners - JKA' and also monitor the performance of the working committee (described below) while providing suggestions and feedback from the public. 

2) A much smaller 'Working Committee' that will gradually include representation in an equitable manner from each administrative part of the whole territory, including a quota for the diaspora. 

To date (Friday the 25th of July 2025) we have 6 members actively working on securing the freedom of such detainees, updating the online database, liaising with the diaspora and local to regional to global level entities and institutions. 

1) Quayyum Raja - district Kotli division Mirpur (AJK) 

2) Nasir Sarwar - district & division Poonch (AJK) 

3) Dr Liaqat - district Kotli division Mirpur (AJK)

4) Tanveer Ahmed - district Kotli division Mirpur (AJK)

5) Ta-aruf Abbas Advocate - district Astor division Gilgit (GB)

6) Nisar Shah Advocate - district & division Poonch 

The shape of the 'Working Committee' will eventually have scope for a maximum of 9 people from each of the regions of AJK, GB, Jammu, the Kashmir Valley & Ladakh; to ensure equity in inclusion and avoid marginalisation in any matter of public interest.

Website

….

 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 205 of 2025

0757hrs:

I tried to sleep at 2000hrs once again. I didn't get to close my eyes till about c. 2115hrs and despite remaining in that state I didn't actually get to sleep till about 0030hrs. I eventually got up 4 hours later than intended. I will try again tonight. Practice will edge me closer to perfection in the coming days.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 204 of 2025

1612hrs:

After just one day and two nights of trying to sleep between 2000hrs (8pm) and 0300hrs (3am) I've had to take a day off my routine, in order to re-evaluate what changes I need to bring to the rest of my daily life, so that this routine can become a stable feature of my existence.

We will try again this evening, to get to sleep by 2000hrs. Let's see how this effort develops.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 203 of 2025

0331hrs:

I did try to sleep but the pattern practiced over the past few weeks, since returning from my most recent journey, has been nocturnal. 

A working day without sleep is a necessary chore that I will have to endure, even at this pivotal age of 53.

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So begins a new chapter in our 2 decades old activism:

1) From Muzammat (condemnation)   مذمت

2) To Muzaahamat (resistance)            مزاحمت

۔۔

Now we are well and truly in stage 3 of 4 viz.

3) Marrammat (corrective measures)   مرمت

Whereas the 4th and final stage will be the actualisation of a genuinely free people's government or #PopularSovereignty to use a technical term.

4) Hukumat (government)                   حکومت        

۔۔۔۔

On the 19th of July, an All-Parties Conference took place in Kotli with representation of over 15 political parties, alliances and organisations. A major outcome of this conference was the announcement of an International Committee for Political Prisoners - JKA.

In due course, we will have a daily update on the status of political prisoners and missing persons throughout the divided State of Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas), which will be accessible at jkapublicagency.org

The following example is of the status of political prisoners in Gilgit Baltistan who have been arrested on various dates during the month of May 2025. 

(These details will also be incorporated at the above referenced website): 

Currently there are 13 political leaders incarcerated in Gilgit Central Jail, whereas 2 were released on bail 2 days ago (21 July), namely Aslam Inqalabi and Sarfaraz Nagri. These aforementioned 2 political leaders were charged with sedition, while the remaining political leaders mentioned below, have been charged with sections related to anti-terrorism and rebellion.

Names (Urdu):

احسان ایڈووکیٹ  ضلع ہنزہ

مسعود الرحمن ضلع گلگت

محبوب ولی ضلع گلگت

ممتاز نگری ایڈووکیٹ  ضلع نگر

نفیس ایڈووکیٹ ضلع گلگت

تعارف ایڈووکیٹ ضلع استور

ابرار بگورو ضلع گلگت

شیر نادر شاہی ضلع غذر

اصغر شاہ ضلع گلگت

عرفان آذاد ضلع گلگت

منظر مایا  ضلع گلگت

وحید حسن ضلع ہنزہ

غلام عباس ایڈووکیٹ ضلع گلگت 

Names:

1) Ehsan Ali Advocate - Chairman of Awami Action Committee (AAC) Gilgit Baltistan (GB) - He hails from the district of Hunza and was arrested on the 14th of May.

2) Masood ur Rehman - President of Trader's Association Gilgit and member of AAC. He is a resident of  the district of Gilgit and we are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

3) Mehboob Wali (ur Rehman) - AAC and of Gilgit district.

4) Mumtaz Nagri Advocate - Chairman of Karakorum National Movement (KNM) and of Nagar district. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

5) Nafees Advocate - President of Balawaristan National Front (BNF) and of district Gilgit. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

6) Ta-aruf Abbas Advocate - General Secretary of Karakorum National Movement (KNM) and of district Astore. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

7) Ibrar Ali Bagoro - AAC and of Gilgit district. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

8) Sher Nadir Shahi - General Secretary Awami Worker's Party (AWP) and of district Ghizer. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

9) Asghar Shah  - AAC and of district Gilgit. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

10) Irfan Azad - President of Balawaristan National Front (BNF) and of district Gilgit. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

11) Manzar Maya - AAC and of district Gilgit. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

12) Waheed Hassan - Awami Worker's Party  (AWP) and of district Hunza. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

13) Ghulam Abbas Advocate - AAC and of district Gilgit. We are awaiting confirmation of his date of arrest.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 202 of 2025

2101hrs:

Have decided to finally usher in the 2000hrs (8pm) to 0300hrs (3am) sleep routine for good in my life. 

I am already over an hour behind in my intended schedule on the very first day but I won't let that deter me. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 201 of 2025

2329hrs:

A busy day at home. 

We always need to work hardest on what are the weakest aspects of this struggle. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 200 of 2025

2320hrs:

Positive vibes....

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 199 of 2025

1842hrs:

Yet another day at home but productive. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 198 of 2025

1533hrs:

Still at home today as I continue to grapple with Urdu documentation. What can be done in English in an hour could take up to 3 days in Urdu and still not reach the standard achieved in English. 

Unfortunately, any activist living in such an environment as AJK, has to inevitably take on the burden of his people's laziness or simple unwillingness to learn about the world and its developments, given that English remains the lingua franca of most cutting edge research.

Yes, we understand that the Chinese are making inroads but the Urdu speaking world appears to still be in some form of stupor, that may not be entirely blamed on British colonialism but it certainly has played a significant part.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 197 of 2025

1941hrs:

Arrived back home in Sehnsa yesterday evening. 

Spent the day reflecting amidst a very welcome wet day. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 196 of 2025

1335hrs:

Still trying to cram in one more meeting before leaving Mirpur.

The sky is overcast with tiny drops of infrequent rain but humidity remains high in the city. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 195 of 2025

2328hrs:

A thoughtful day in Mirpur. Methodical and inbuilt evolution. Each day opens a new vista. 

Kotli is where the gravity is, Mirpur and Poonch will vouch for that. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 194 of 2025

1825hrs:

Another journey, down South towards Mirpur this time. The rain has also accompanied us, in fits and spurts. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 193 of 2025

1155hrs:

Now that I have received confirmation today (by phone from the Assistant Commissioner's office, Sehnsa) that my dear paternal uncle (Taya Munshi) has indeed made an application to the Assistant Commissioner (AC), in reference to wanting the endemically corrupt administration of AJK, to assist him in securing his preferred share of the family inherited land of 27 Kanaals (c. 3.4 acres) divided by 3 (brothers), meaning each brother is entitled to a 9 kanaal (c. 1.1 acre) share. 

We don't have a problem with his share, we just have a problem with him (Taya Munshi) insisting and conniving with the administration to try and take land which comes in our share, just because some of it happens to coincide with the main road. 

He already has land on the main road and has built a number of shops in his share of the land but wants more, at out cost as we are not intent on taking commercial benefit of land that is adjacent to our residence. We just don't need the commotion that commercialism brings to the neighbourhood. We'd rather make effort on restoring nature in our vicinity. 

We have to now engage in countering his greed. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 192 of 2025

1329hrs:

I haven't ventured out to Kotli today either, focussing on data management at home instead. 

We have learned that Ayaz Butt's incarceration has been extended (he was originally arrested on the 15th of June 2025) to the 24th of July at least. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 191 of 2025

2113hrs:

A day spent mainly at home today, although I did venture out as far as Gulpur. I will be resuming my daily drive to Kotli tomorrow, as I continue preparing for a structural Awaami Adaalat (Public Court) there. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 190 of 2025

1114hrs:

From last night I have been taking antibiotics to prepare myself for some long overdue comprehensive dental treatment, some of it pending for almost 3 decades. 

This is affecting my ability to work in every sense but it is a necessary part of self-improvement, if not self-preservation. 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 189 of 2025

1438hrs:

In Kotli.....consultation continues....

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 188 of 2025

1032hrs:

The beginning of a critical week in relation to the future of this territory, still described as AJK. 

District Kotli will have to make the breakthrough. 

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Of course, in all matters related to AJK > JKA, there is always an internal as well as external dimension. The following is one such example:

As mentioned in the letter, this was a response to a request by Quayyum Raja to outline JKA PUBLIC AGENCY's stance on regional efforts for global peace. This request was in turn based on the following statement by Seyed Shahabeddin Tabatabaei, Secretary General of the Nedaye Iranian Political Party. A link to the latter's public statement can be found here .

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 187 of 2025

1150hrs:

Sunday is a day of rest and on this occasion, a day of reunion with my children. 

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The following Urdu letter addressed to the President of Pakistan in relation to his country's military presence in AJK, has been written by Zubair Bhatti and endorsed by JKA PUBLIC AGENCY as bona fide communication between an aspiring citizen of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and the 'Head of State' of Pakistan.

<

Google AI confirms the following: 

Yes,
in Pakistan's Constitution, the president is the head of state and the civilian Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces, having Supreme Command of the armed forces vested in the President. While the President holds this authority, they exercise executive power in consultation with the Prime Minister, who also oversees the Armed Forces. 

Head of State and Commander-in-Chief

The President serves as the head of state and the civilian commander-in-chief, representing the unity of the republic. 

The Supreme Command of the Armed Forces is vested in the President, according to the Constitution.  

>

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