1208hrs:
Countdown to end of 2025: 69 days
Each passing day should be taking us in the direction of a genuinely free government in AJK. Whether it is or not is still unclear to many people, especially those living outside, peeking in.
In general, the public here recognises that an unprecedented level of momentum to obtain our basic rights has been generated within the territory. They may not be familiar with the more technical aspects of what is required - and this is precisely what we are focusing on explaining to them - but they certainly know that we are on the right direction and that a precise time frame cannot be decided as yet. Some estimate that we are still about 1.5/2 years away from our target.
I'm simply trying to move them along to the next level of local evolution, which if not timely could derail the whole process. Hence, my deadline given at the beginning of this year (2025) that they must fulfil the minimum requirements for a genuine government by the end of this year, of which there are just 69 days left.
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Today coincides exactly with the 78 year old date when a provisional government declaration was made, forming the constitutional basis for the current government in Muzaffarabad. Details of this declaration can be found here.
78 years on, nothing written in that document rings true today or even did from the outset - except using the people as a cover - and not much remains of that government either. It has literally been shredded to pieces over the past couple of years by the public, via #JAAC .
I considered it apt that I provide a guest article to our readers, to gain a different take on how many of our people view that date in our history. It was originally written in Urdu but has an English translation too:
On the Chessboard of History, the Pieces Don’t Matter — Only the Players Change
Banditry Streak - Farhan Tariq
The region known today as Azad Kashmir — administered by Pakistan — came into being on this very night, October 24, 1947.
It was under the direction of Rawalpindi’s Commissioner Khawaja Abdul Rahim and Begum Naseem Shah Nawaz, wife of General Akbar, that the first move was made on the chessboard laid out in the name of “freedom.”
According to Muhammad Yusuf Saraf, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim was awakened in the middle of the night and informed that he had been appointed the President of Azad Kashmir. Thus, the so-called “Base Camp Government” was born — a dream that still lingers restlessly in the pages of history.
Some still recognize that government as the foundation of freedom; others dismiss it as a mere illusion.
But history has a strange temperament — it never repeats itself, it merely changes form and shows us a new reflection.
In today’s Azad Kashmir, the same politics of alliances, betrayals and broken promises are being replayed — only the faces have changed. Once again, the public’s eyes are fixed on that same seat of power, but this time, the decision does not rest with Begum Naseem Shah Nawaz, rather with the daughter of the ruler from Larkana.
Whoever she crowns shall be deemed the new ruler of this land.
That is why the caravans of Kashmiri politicians have once again journeyed from Lahore to Larkana, each hoping to secure their fate — some offering gifts, others polishing their ambitions with flattery.
Yet, as before, the power to decide lies elsewhere.
At this stage of history, only the pieces have changed — the move remains the same, and so do the spectators.
Many observers believe that in the past seventy-eight years, only the centre of decision-making has shifted — from Lahore to Larkana — while everything else stands unchanged.
Meanwhile, a new slogan echoes through the valleys: “Right to Rule.”
The cry is loud, but its meaning remains shrouded in mist.
This land still struggles to decide whether freedom means authority — or merely permission.
Perhaps this is the 'Banditry Streak' — the streak (line) we wish to cross, yet every time, history brings us back to the footprints of our own past.
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Here's the original article in Urdu (written) by Farhan Tariq:
تاریخ کی بساط پر مہروں کا فرق نہیں پڑتا — صرف چال چلنے والے بدل جاتے ہیں۔
رحجانی لکیر -- فرحان طارق
پاکستان کے زیرِ انتظام کشمیر، جسے عرفِ عام میں "آزاد کشمیر" کہا جاتا ہے، کا قیام ٹھیک آج ہی کے دن، 23 اکتوبر 1947ء کی رات عمل میں آیا۔ راولپنڈی کے کمشنر خواجہ عبدالرحیم اور جنرل اکبر کی بیگم، نسیم شاہنواز، کے اشارے پر وہ بساط بچھائی گئی جس پر “آزادی” کے نام کا پہلا مہرہ چلا۔
محمد یوسف صراف کے مطابق، سردار محمد ابراہیم کو عین رات کے پچھلے پہر نیند سے جگا کر بتایا گیا کہ آپ کو آزاد کشمیر کا صدر مقرر کیا جا رہا ہے۔ یوں "بیس کیمپ" حکومت وجود میں آئی — ایک ایسا خواب جو تاریخ کے صفحات پر آج بھی جاگتا ہے۔ جسے وقت و حالات پر بیس کیمپ مانابھی جاتا ہے اور نہیں بھی مانا جاتا۔
مگر تاریخ کا ایک عجب مزاج ہے، وہ خود کو دہراتی نہیں، اپنی شکل بدل کر آئینہ دکھاتی ہے۔
آزاد کشمیر کی موجودہ سیاست میں جوڑ توڑ، وفاداریاں بدلنے اور وعدوں کی بازگشت پھر وہی منظر تخلیق کر رہی ہے بس کردار نئے ہیں۔ آج عوام کی نظریں پھر ایک بار اس مسند پر جمی ہیں مگر اب فیصلے کا اختیار بیگم نسیم شاہنواز کے پاس نہیں، حاکمِ زرداری کی بیٹی کے پاس ہے۔
وہ تاج جس کے سر پر رکھے گی وہی اس خطے کا نیا حکمران تصور ہوگا۔ یہی وجہ ہےکہ آزاد کشمیر کے سیاستدانوں کے قافلے پھر لاہور سے لاڑکانہ کی دہلیزوں تک پہنچ چکے ہیں۔
کوئی تحفے دے کر قسمت کا سکندر بننا چاہتا ہے، کوئی خوشامد کے تانے بانے سے اپنی شیروانی کے بٹن سنوار رہا ہے۔ مگر فیصلہ وہ اب بھی کسی اور کے ہاتھ میں ہے۔
تاریخ کے اس سٹیج پر اب صرف مہرے بدلے ہیں، چال وہی ہے، تماشائی بھی وہی۔
بعض عوامی حلقوں کا کہنا ہے کہ گزشتہ 78 برسوں میں صرف فیصلے کا مرکز لاہور سے لاڑکانہ منتقل ہوا ہے باقی سب کچھ جوں کا توں ہے۔
ادھر ایک نئی صدا گونج رہی ہے، "حقِ حکمرانی" کی۔
یہ نعرہ بلند تو ہے، مگر اس کی تشریح آج بھی دھند میں لپٹی ہوئی ہے۔
یہ خطہ اب بھی یہ طے نہیں کر سکا کہ آزادی کا مطلب اختیار ہے یا اجازت۔
شاید یہی وہ رحجانی لکیر ہے جسے ہم عبور کرنا چاہتے ہیں مگرہر بار تاریخ ہمیں اپنے ہی قدموں کے نشانوں تک واپس لے آتی ہے۔
۔۔۔۔
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The time is nigh to reach out to UK parliamentarians who (or whose families) originate from AJK in particular and JKA in general:
UK parliamentary activism to ensure the peaceful motives of the people of AJK in particular and JKA in general, are respected and honoured by India and Pakistan, who both came into being as a consequence of legislation in that very UK parliament (ref. 18 July 1947)
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I would ask you all to confirm the following details and help us in profiling an exact list of current UK MPs who (or their forbears) originate from Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas).
It would also be helpful if you could identify an educated constituent from each of these constituencies who also originates from our country and may help us liaise with these MPs, to help us ensure that a policy of zero tolerance is adhered to with respect to the peaceful exercise of self determination and peaceful pursuit of all universally recognised rights, throughout the territory of JKA:
1) Shabana Mahmood
Mirpur (Mangla) & Birmingham Ladywood
Labour
2) Nusrat Ghani
Dadyaal & Sussex Weald
Conservative
3) Afzal Khan
Bhimber & Manchester Rusholme
Labour
4) Rosena Allin-Khan
(Need to confirm) & Tooting (London)
Labour
5) Mohammed Yasin
Smaahni & Bedford
Labour
6) Ayoub Khan
Dadyaal & Birmingham Perry Barr
Independent
7) Zarah Sultana
Dadyaal & Coventry South
Independent
8) Imran Hussain
Akaalgarh & Bradford East
Labour
9) Naz Shah
Chakswari (Akaalgarh) & Bradford West
Labour
10) Yasmin Qureshi
Valley of Kashmir & Bolton South and Walkden
Labour
11) Tahir Ali
Dadyaal & Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Labour
Others?
Dr Zubir Ahmed - Glasgow South West (Pakistani?)
Labour
Naushabah Khan - Gillingham and Rainham
Labour
Adnan Hussain - Blackburn
Independent
Have I missed anybody?
Is it practical to widen this exercise to the House of Lords or should we concentrate on those who rely on the public vote for their privilege to legislate?
Should this exercise be widened further to include councillors of JKA origin?
JKA PUBLIC AGENCY Questionnaire: #EQ000624102025
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