Daily Diary (DD) - Day 318 of 2024

0925hrs:

Reverting back to some form of routine after that whirlwind tour over the past week, effectively taking me from Bhimber to Neelam and back.

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 166 of 2024

1346hrs:

A lot of commotion in the past 36 hours or so. The public is running after the police who have 6 of our co-citizens captive, currently at Bhimber jail. I didn't sleep until beyond 0400hrs because of constant communication but did get up at 0900hrs. Again, the quantum of sleep is not bad but the timing is.

....

Before the storm in Kotli was a contemplative calm in moza Kraitort, taken there for Day 8 of our village to village campaign reference #AJKReferendum2023 :

....

Chor (AJK Police) vs. Police (Public of AJK):

....

Kotli coming of age in 2024:

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 150 of 2023

1237hrs:

Motoring on confidently and assuredly.

....

Here's our fifth TikTok offering:

@ajkpublicagency #AJKReferendum2023#AJKReferendum2023#AJKReferendum2023 - Day 8 - #30052023 - #Moil #Barnaala #Bhimber ♬ original sound - Tanveer Ahmed

Immediately followed by our sixth TikTok offering:

@ajkpublicagency #AJKReferendum2023#AJKReferendum2023#AJKReferendum2023 - Day 8 - #30052023 - #Moil #Barnaala #Bhimber ♬ original sound - Tanveer Ahmed

.... 

As mentioned yesterday, we will be replicating our TikTok uploads on YouTube shorts at our JKA PUBLIC AGENCY channel:

Here's our 2nd offering on our YouTube Channel ref. #AJKReferendum2023https://t.co/Wejm1j5Lex

— JKA PUBLIC AGENCY (@jkapublicagency) June 10, 2023

Quickly followed by our 3rd offering (on YouTube):

Here's our 3rd offering on our YouTube channel ref. #AJKReferendum2023https://t.co/K4UOKEXpgB

— JKA PUBLIC AGENCY (@jkapublicagency) June 10, 2023

.... 

We provide an Urdu explanation for our global petition:

 

....

Our first roadblock emerged today when the building owner of the office we were renting received some oblique threats from Pakistan's clandestine agencies via the AJK police in Barnaala. The latter informed our landlord Faizan Subhani that we didn't have 'security clearance' for the work we were doing, which is essentially a euphemism for alerting our public that Pakistan's agencies are breathing down their neck. Nobody - and particularly those with assets - wish to get entangled with Pakistan's roving agencies.

After extensive deliberations with our well wishers in the vicinity of Moil and further afield, we decided that it would be imprudent if we put those very people that we are working for, in trouble. Yes, we are designing and implementing world class governance in our territory whose dividends should be received by our public at large, yet if these very people get agitated by our presence due to Pakistan's agencies creating havoc in their lives then our presence here would be counter productive.

It was agreed that we should complete #AJKReferendum2023 in the stronger parts of the territory and then use the momentum of that strength to complete our tasks in the weaker parts of AJK. Bhimber as a district has been traditionally weak - along with Haveli and Hattian - and thus we will venture north to Poonch division via Mirpur and Kotli:

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 146 of 2023

1049hrs:

Setting the most important precedent for 21st century governance, in Bhimber district of all places.

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 359 of 2022

1353hrs:

Day 203 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0800hrs

Attendance = 100%

Punctuality = 67%

136 days on time or early of 203

Punctuality surplus = 44 minutes 

Punctuality Consistency Status = 2 days

....

Today was the day that I had to scrub human waste off the pathway in Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Chowk:

....

The following is an acute example of the absence of health facilities in AJK. For how much longer do we have to endure such despicable governance?

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 265 of 2022

1312hrs:

Day 109 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0825hrs

My punctuality surplus has transformed into a deficit once again. It corresponds exactly to the amount of minutes that I was late today viz. 25 minutes.

For some peculiar reason, my eyes opened at the same time as yesterday viz. at 0809hrs. Except that I was fresher today than yesterday morning, when I had barely 3 hours of sleep. 

Punctuality percentage: 61 days on time or early of 109 = 56% punctual.

....

Day 10 of our evening commitment to public interest brings us to the topic of public opinion and how that fares with the other 3 influencers of public policy:

Set a reminder for my upcoming Space! https://t.co/tHTMJm1l9h
The Ultimate test of #OwnershipNarratives vs #ClaimantNarratives in #JKA especially in the digital age is:#PublicOpinion

Not#ElectoralSystem#BackDoorAgreements#Referendum

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 22, 2022

 Associated reference:

We can authoritatively claim that the following survey was the most representative of public opinion ever collected in any part of the erstwhile princely State, since 1947:

Link (English)

Link (Urdu)

Space Count (That is: How many people have engaged so far): 62 (updated at 1733hrs on 24/09/2022) 

Average space count (10 days so far): 94

....

Does anyone remember Chacha Cricket? Well, it appears that he was in Bhimber yesterday, trying to rally the locals behind Pakistan's State narrative! Needless to say, he experienced a rude awakening:

In this age, there are multiple secure & authentic ways of capturing #PublicOpinion
Over the past few months in particular, #Pakistan has repeatedly failed the test of public opinion in #AJK & #GilgitBaltistan

The public is now preparing a legal challenge against its presence. https://t.co/u3l8ikmZTp

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 22, 2022

....

The following case is what I describe as the alleged murder of prime AJK human capital in Pakistan's capital Islamabad in March, earlier this year. The case of Imperial College London postgraduate Farooq Ali, a descendent of Plaak, Mirpur AJK; who was born and brought up in Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom:

Here's a concise well documented summary of Farooq Ali's case so far, written by his Cambridge graduate neurologist sister Dr. Rehiana Ali:

Background:

Farooq was a graduate of Imperial College London (2:1 in Biochemistry with a A* from British Biotech during year in Industry) and had Masters in Biochemistry - also from Imperial College London. 

He was from Bradford – he had studied at Bradford Grammar School securing 3 As at A level in Maths, Biology and Geography.

Farooq – strongly believed in education. Helped younger brother Yusuf and paid private school fees even whilst studying at Imperial. Helped his sister Rehiana get into Cambridge University – she’s now a Consultant Neurologist.

Why in Pakistan?

He was currently playing tennis - he hoped to go shortly on the seniors’ tour.

He loved Pakistan and knew much of the history of Pakistan and Kashmir. He wanted to play for Pakistan.

He was also currently writing a fiction book and it was nearing completion.

Strategy:

Farooq recognised he needed a “platform” to do anything for Pakistan, Kashmir and indeed, Palestine… this was where the tennis and book came in. He had written articles – not huge numbers but they were ideas/intellectual in content not a weekly/monthly output (he wrote under a pen name called Omar Khorharudin). He had contributed to Kashmir Media Services (KMS) and the article called ‘the second green revolution in Indian occupied Kashmir’ was syndicated to Pakistan Observer. He had previously set up cashmerenews.net and it was hacked a lot…here Farooq would put articles, content on culture, history etc. He also realised that Pakistanis and Kashmiris were more “visual” so tried to start cartoons…again focussing on the occupation.

He was of firm belief that Pakistan needed to do more for Kashmir on the international stage, that Kashmiris should lead from within Pakistan and that Hindustan had to be contained. He recognised that Pakistan was going to be key in the Muslim world and therefore would be targeted – directly and indirectly – by West and Israeli allies.

Why hotel?

Family home is in Azad Kashmir.

He was staying in hotel in Islamabad as it was close to the Pakistan Tennis Federation (which had clay and hard courts).

He did look for a flat but preferred the convenience of a hotel - with room service, laundry and housekeeping.

He was in Ramada by Wyndham hotel Islamabad. This is 1 of the top 3 hotels in Islamabad and reportedly "safe". He moved there in May 2021.

We believe he was murdered on 11th or early hours of 12th March 2022. His body was "discovered" on 16th March 2022 i.e. 5 days later.

Brief chronology of events:

Farooq was - by August 2021 - paying hotel monthly. He would pay 8 - 10th of every month and kept a record. He never paid later than 10th of every month.

Rehiana, his sister, paid a visit in June 2021 staying for 4 weeks so knew their systems. 

No concerns were raised when we spoke to our brother. He was only 44 years old and completely well and very upbeat. If he had any health concerns, he would have almost certainly shared them with his sister, who is a doctor. He had no medical conditions at all.

Rehiana and Farooq shared a credit card – she noticed no payment to the hotel had been made. His phone was unanswered – she assumed due to connection issues (this happened repeatedly before).

She called the hotel on 16th March 2022 to check that he was still at that hotel – and was assured he was. As it was still early in Pakistan, she did not ask to speak to him saying she would try him later. No reference was made that they had not seen him for 5 days.

She was called 7 hours later saying that her brother was dead. 

She said she did not want her brother moved and that they were coming straight to Pakistan. She was very clear that forensic samples should be sent.

She asked if food samples had been sent and was told they were. She was told photographs and forensics had been taken and they would await her before moving the body.  

The sisters and parents caught a flight the same day from Manchester, UK. 

What happened with post-mortem?

Although Rehiana took my brother’s body to the hospital (she was told PIMS but found out later it was the federal polyclinic), she subsequently declined the post mortem because of the doctors involved and a feeling she was being “set-up”. The doctors - one of whom (Dr Niaz) works as on-call for Ramada Hotel. Rehiana was told they thought it was a stroke - this was without examining our brother's body and in advance of the post-mortem. As a Neurologist, she did not believe they could come to that conclusion as yet. After confirming with the police they had taken all forensic samples including blood and foam, she said she was prepared to forgo the post-mortem given the distrust of the doctors - including conduct of a Dr Javaria (the pathologist).

She met the Assistant Commissioner and wrote in English (Rehiana does not read or understand Urdu) that despite the lack of post-mortem there would be an investigation into his death. She later found that the Police also ignored an order from the magistrate - this ordered them to at minimum perform a superficial post-mortem. They did not do this.

My brother’s body was then taken to Kashmir and buried on Friday 18th March 2022. 

Main lies by hotel:

Suspicious activity on CCTV of 3 – 4 hotel people monitoring Farooq’s room between 4 – 5am on 12th March. 

Other lies included: 

That they did not chase billing as he was a long-term guest (in contrast to their behaviour evidenced) - which hotel allows a guest to stay free for 6 days?

The Manager stating “Farooq only ordered food twice a week” and when Rehiana replied “really?” he said “yes, that has been his habit for a long time”. This was a lie as proven by itemised billing. 

- Lies about the ‘Do not disturb’ sign – again lies according to CCTV coverage

There are other lies too.

This 4* international hotel opened door without police and disturbed the crime scene. They allowed 14 people into the room. 

Police corruption:

No finger printing of crime scene.

Never sent blood and foam for toxicology. For some reason police only sent for DNA - which is usually when you are unable to identify the body.

Police did not send all food for forensics – in fact they did not send the last food eaten (milk and cereal) from 11th March 2022.

They kept food samples from 10th March in a cupboard – only sending to Lahore on 25th March.

Despite Rehiana asking them to investigate, they refused to give an FIR (First Investigation report) – she had to go to court to get this.

The Police made false statements claiming they were from family

The Police tried to say it was natural, then suicide and now natural.

Exhumation and post-mortem: 

- Performed on 9th May 2022

Final exhumation report stated that they cannot ascertain the cause of death

Family have met all officials in police force – repeatedly promised an investigation which they then stop. We met the SHO 3 times, the SSP, the DIG, the first IG (Ahsan Younas) and now twice with IG Akbar. 

All the family have asked for is a fair, thorough and transparent investigation. But the Police won’t do it. Even when hotel staff and management lie, Police will not act.

Our family had to even petition the court to get the Police to investigate - not much has happened despite latest meeting with Islamabad Police Inspector General Akbar on 4th July in presence of Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom (first meeting the British High Commission attended with the family he promised a thorough investigation within 2 weeks.

- The court had ordered police to complete investigation by 20th July.

Still no police report – and now Police are pressurising independent medical board (from Kashmir) to change their report to say death was natural. It seems that the junior members of board had also been contacted by Police.

End of Farooq Ali case summary to date (25/09/2022)

Update (25/10/2022):

Since we did the interview with JKTV on 10th September, we received the report by the Medical Board (issued 12th September 2022). They – despite pressure from Islamabad Police – stood their ground and with their original findings. They refused to state death was natural.

Despite this response, the British High Commission (BHC) have consistently refused to condemn actions of Islamabad Police. In fact, they have legitimised them. So, I had no issues if police wanted to ask the medical board about another test etc but the request to state if the death was natural or not is not standard practice.  It was not right of BHC to try and pretend it was. 

Since this second report on 12th September, the Police have still refused to submit a final report. They issued an – undated – “progress report” on 15th October 2022 via the BHC. This is not a police report under section 173 of Cr. PC and appears to satisfy no-one but the BHC. Now, in this report, the Police re-refer to possible negligence – something already “explored” in August. There is no information – and BHC never requested any – as to what exactly the Police are doing.

On 19th July 2022, when we met Dr Christian Turner, British High Commissioner he stated that it was “unacceptable” if the “investigation” dragged into September.

Despite it being 24th October and with no final report being issued, BHC still appear unconcerned. I stated to BHC that if their supposed “daily calls” were not working, a change in approach was needed.

I asked for a meeting with the PM yet nothing has been forthcoming. I do not believe a meeting would be denied if BHC support was truly behind us. This Shehbaz Sharif signed a book of condolences twice for Elizabeth….

So I then asked the BHC to themselves request a meeting with the PM (rather than forward a letter) – as my meeting was not forthcoming. They have not done so despite the logic of the request.

I also asked the BHC to liaise with the IG directly – there is no point asking the IO (Investigating Officer) as it is clear he is under orders and has no independence in this investigation. 

We have tried other avenues:

On 1st September, we left letters for PM Sharif in PM offices and in Cabinet offices – the latter with Shahid Ahmed Sandhu, Joint Secretary and with Zakib Ullah, Assistant Deputy Secretary.

Protests:

We protested outside PM House and outside Supreme Court on 15th September 2022. 

Outside Supreme Court, I was assaulted by Misbah Shahbaz, SHO Women’s Station and yet the BHC failed to help. In fact, they advised me to follow what the police said – in Iran and Afghanistan, they support democracy but in Pakistan, they refuse to uphold the democratic right to protest….

I was then told – subtly – that they may have to withdraw support from me because of the NICOP card (Pakistani identity card indicating dual citizenship). The Deputy High Commissioner, Andrew Dalgleish, refused to answer any questions sent on email.

I had a call on 23rd September from Najeeb Mandowill (?) who was in charge of the PM grievance wing…I told them a meeting with the PM had been requested not by grievance officials so he said he would send it to PM House.

On 22nd September, we protested in Dadyal – to raise the voice within AJK.

We were promised help by various people including Javaid Zaffar (PMLN politician in Dadyal) – nothing. 

On 26th September we went to Dadyal…the IG of AJK didn’t turn up at the PWD where we were told to go. Met some other commissioners who said they would raise it. Nothing.

On 27th September, we went to Ramada by Wyndham to protest. 

AJK media:

On 29th September, we went to Mirpur press club – again only 1 person put it on Facebook and Shuja (journalist) took 10,000 rupees but then said he couldn’t get it on the channels…and refuses to look at messages.

On 1st October, we did a press conference in Muzaffarabad – despite the number of mikes, no national media has taken it as yet.

AJK politicians:

On that same day, we went to PM House in AJK – apparently PM was asleep but the request for a meeting would be forwarded. Nothing yet.

We went to the President of AJK’s House and left him a letter. Nothing yet.

I spoke to Ch Yaseen (MLA Kotli) who promised help…nothing.

I spoke to MLA Qasim Majeed (MLA for Chakswari, Palak etc) on 10th October – he told me to “make an application” then agreed to speak to SSP and act….nothing and has ignored messages on 20th October and 22nd October 2022. 

UK MPs:

Richard Burgon, MP Leeds East for myself – last spoke in July and agreed to meet via zoom on 14th October. Refused to help with media, social media or even raise it in HoC (parliament)…he only agreed to re-write to BHC to ask more specifically about actions of ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory) police.

Judith Cummins MP for my parents – Bradford South – to date, hardly responding. Not one single meeting offered despite nature of case – this has now been requested again.

Naz Shah MP for Bradford West met my younger brother on 1st October 2022 (he first spoke to her in August) but the first press conference was cancelled. I spoke to her on 13th and 14th October. She says she will help. We need to see. She agreed to write to BHC and foreign secretary, share on her social media to raise awareness and raise it at foreign minister’s questions. Nothing has happened as yet. Her visit to Pakistan was cancelled because we were going to use that for media given the blackout so far.

Other Kashmiri MPs have so far stayed silent e.g. Imran Hussain though they most definitely know about it.

Medical issues:

More lately, the GP (local doctor in the UK) surgery had refused to supply medications to my parents according to a NHS “rule” however we are not resident here nor here out of choice. My father is 84 with multiple medical problems – type 2 diabetes, a previous heart bypass, a heart attack last year, angina, mild COPD, high blood pressure (very difficult to control over last 2 weeks with values 160 – 180 representing a stroke risk), chronic renal impairment so no other doctor has all the medical background. The weather is also changing and we don’t have the luxury of central heating in Palak yet cannot get Judith Cummins, his MP, to help.

End of update (25/10/2022)....

The public of AJK and its diaspora (particularly in the UK) can follow developments on this murder mystery till its conclusion, by following the hashtags: 

#JusticeForFarooqAli 

#MurderAtRamadaByWyndham

Other social media accounts may be accessed by using the linktr.ee link below. Do share with family and friends to raise awareness and help Farooq and his family get justice, elusive as it may seem in a country with a track record as that of Pakistan.

Link Tree

Remember, this could have happened to any of us and indeed may happen in the future. Thus, solidarity is in every sane person's interest. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 215 of 2022

1337hrs:

Day 59 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0748hrs

My punctuality deficit has decreased to 467 minutes.

....

1757hrs

This evening an all parties meeting took place in the Square in Dadyaal and I was also invited but as is normal with the organisers of the event (local members of JKNAP), I wasn't invited to speak. Which is fine in normal circumstances but when the organisers pretend to give you importance after the event, you recognise that they are practicing legerdemain, just like the Pakistani occupiers they are supposedly struggling to evict from this territory.

I also remember to put matters in context. After all, such people and their forbears practiced a similar attitude with K. H. Khursheed and Maqbool Bhat while they were alive, before eulogising them endlessly after their deaths.  That is: to marginalise sincere activists while they are alive and pretend that you are playing a more instrumental role than them - despite the former giving their all - while you only make your presence felt at opportune moments to maximise your visibility and provide the perception that it is you that is giving your all.

Obviously, when sincere activists die then they no longer make you uncomfortable and you are no longer competing with them. Now, the path is clear for you to eulogise them and further your own political aspirations.

I haven't written the above to vent my frustrations but to describe to my people and the rest of the world that how hard genuine activism is in the most precious territory in the world. On a practical basis, this is more difficult to overcome than the various hurdles that the occupiers use to stall our struggle, which in itself is a long list of ugly tactics.

....

The 'All Parties Peoples Rights Forum' that emerged in district Poonch has also extended to our southern-most district, namely Bhimber:

....

Total bazaar (market-place) shut-down (what our people describe as shutter-down) in Bagh:

....

An important convention also took place in Gilgit today under the aegis of the 'Awaami Action Committee' which involved representatives from all 10 districts of Gilgit Baltistan:

....

Meanwhile, we continue to periodically engage the local administration to aid us in beautifying the Square. On this particular visit to the Assistant Commissioner (AC), we explain - in written form as well as through one to one communication - that to begin tree plantation in the Square we need to increase the height of the metal grills surrounding the Square by 2 feet, so that animals and particularly goats cannot leap into the Square to cause rampage. We also need to affix some strong spring hinges to the gates of the main entrance to the Square, to prevent larger animals from headbutting their way in. 

Here's the correspondence including estimate of cost, which we would prefer the municipality to afford, given that it derives an income from the public, hence its responsibility:

We can also provide you with a written estimate from the welder too:

....

 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 82 of 2022

2157hrs:

Day 53 at Martyr's Square Kotli

Public opinion gathering hasn't quite finished yet. 

We love learning something new every day, however minute it may appear at the moment.

....

It was Britain versus Russia pre 1947, then the Brits gave us India and Pakistan and now we have China and America to contend with too, in JKA:

On this day in 1931, Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh and his comrades Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged for fighting against British imperialism. They reportedly chanted “Down with British Imperialism” while marching towards the gallows. pic.twitter.com/L2MC8SUlzA

— redfish (@redfishstream) March 23, 2022

 

....

For the love of Pakistan in AJK:

#یوم_پاکستان کے موقع پر پاکستان کے زیر انتظام کشمیر میں عظیم الشان ریلی نکالی گئی ، یہ مناظر نظریہ کشمیر بنے گا پاکستان کی بہترین عکاسی کر رہے ہیں pic.twitter.com/d4A9jDQm1o

— Usman Tariq Chughtai (@UsmanTariqUSK) March 23, 2022

 

We can then compare the above with the following State-sponsored propaganda event to boost the occupier's morale in Bhimber, at the cost of the AJK taxpayer:

 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 47 of 2022

0917hrs:

Day 28 at Martyr's Square Kotli

Another not so random click at the castle of strategic aspirations:

......

Students of Kotli stand and protest in solidarity with their brothers and sisters at AJK University in Muzaffarabad, who were beaten black and blue by AJK police. 

Why? 

Because they were peacefully protesting for rights that students throughout the world usually do not need to protest over.

The attitude of the AJK government to demands for basic rights by any citizen(s) of any shape or kind?

Beat them up and force them them to re-think the reality in which they live.

Almost zero governance, as declared by AJK PUBLIC AGENCY 

They also took this opportunity to show solidarity with me:

.......

Media attention has increased markedly in the past few days and that has got to be a positive development. Here's another example:

.......

Journalist Fazal ur Rehman of Smaahni is at full steam and on the ball:

......

A circular was sent out in the evening to 10 'nationalist' political parties of AJK in Urdu:

کوٹلی شہید چوک ۔۔

ملک وسیم اور ان کی فیملی کے ایشو پر کل شام 6 بجے شہید چوک کوٹلی میں سب ہم وطنوں کوبشمول جتنے بھی سیاسی پارٹیوں کے عہدےداران ہیں ۔ایک منفرد اجتماع جس میں آپ کی شرکت پوری قوم کے لیے ایک پیشرفت ہوگی ۔۔۔

Here's the Roman Urdu version of the invite:

Malik Waseem aur family ke issue par kal 6 bajey shaam ko Shaheed Chowk Kotli me daawat hay sab humwatano ko, baashamool jitney bhi political party audidaar han....Aik munfarid ijtima hoga aur aap ki shirkat puri quom ke liye aik peshraft hogi...

Party representatives invited:

1) JKLF - T (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front - Toqeer faction)

2) JKLF - H (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front - Haq Nawaz faction)

3) JKNAP (Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party)

4) JKNSF - Azad (Jammu Kashmir National Student's Federation - free faction)

5) KFM (Kashmir Freedom Movement)

6) JKSLF - Azad (Jammu Kashmir Student's Liberation Front - free faction)

7) UKPNP (United Kashmir People's National Party)

8) JKNEP (Jammu Kashmir National Equality Party)

9) KNP (Kashmir National Party)

10) JKLF - S (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front - Sagheer faction)

........

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 206 of 2020

2156hrs:

I was so engaged in Dheri Wattan yesterday evening that I overlooked my self-imposed duty of filing a daily diary entry for Day 205 of 2020.

I reached Ali Beg Gurdwara this afternoon and have continued heavy interaction with my co-citizens both in AJK and in the diaspora.

At this point I am virtually shattered!

.....

Here's the daily video update from yesterday - which by missing yesterday's daily diary entry I'm delivering here:



......

This can be followed by today's update at Ali Beg, which could not be broadcast for long due to serious connectivity issues. My internet device which is over 4 years old is playing up:



..... 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 204 of 2020

2317hrs:

I've left it very late today. The weather was just a tad challenging en route from Dhandar Kot to Bhimber.

I couldn't make contact with some of my old acquaintances in the city but made some new ones.

A lot of my co-citizens need to be installed with confidence and it needs to emerge from within them. There is always a limit to what can be installed from external sources.

.....

Here's our daily video update of our cycle tour, brought to you from the village of Pothi near Bhimber:



........

Here's our daily YouTube update, which we couldn't deliver to you yesterday because no video was made coincidentally:



......

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 203 of 2020

1224hrs:

Today is the 3rd day of travelling northwards from one extreme of AJK to the other. The weather remains kind as do the people of my territory.

Today, I'll be proceeding from Barnaala to Dhandar which will also take me into the next subdivision (tehsil) namely Bhimber.

.....

Please remember that the updates on my Facebook page will be staggered and delayed purposefully to give my readers/viewers enough time to digest other pieces of content on this cycle tour. However, on this weblog they will correspond to the date that the content was generated on:

.....

The following is yet another key facet of our occupation. Please do visit the links in the comments section of this embed to gain more context:



.....

As I've increasingly intimated over the past few years, the responsibility of the UK Government in reference to Jammu Kashmir & Allied is not just a moral one, it is essentially legal too, which it has skillfully abdicated from, especially since it skillfully diverted our (the people's) 'right to rule' (Haq e Hukmrani) to one of a bilateral territorial dispute at the United Nations. Most of our people have been hoodwinked ever since and I'm glad that another legal mind has eloquently pointed this out for the likes of the Labour Party in the UK. Many thanks to Mirza Sahib Beg of the Valley of Kashmir and residing in London for his contribution to our common cause:



......

Our daily updates on this cycle tour continue at Lala Arshad of Oldham's ancestral home in Dhandar Kot:



.....

Unfortunately, I did not generate any video clips today and thus have nothing to offer you via Youtube today. This is purely a coincidence and not because there would have been no such need to capture video content between Barnaala and Dhandar Kot. In fact, the downhill sprint at Kadaala would have been a joyful sight on video, Alas!

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 193 of 2020

1512hrs:

Preparing to leave Dadyaal for my cycle ride from Chamb (in tehsil Barnaala where AJK begins in the South) to Sharda (where AJK ends in the North).

I'll also be doing a lot of work on Google Maps on this particular tour, something that I've regrettably not given any attention to in all my previous tours.

....

Just as we brought you the Upper Jhelum Water Canal Agreement we hereby bring you the Gilgit Lease Agreement between the British Indian Empire and the State of Jammu & Kashmir:

Any discernible reader will gauge the difference in equation of balance between pre 47 governance in J & K under an autocracy and the despicable terms under which governance operates here post 1947, despite us supposedly living in the modern democratic age. In the case of AJK and GB we don't even get to see an agreement, let alone agree terms safeguarding our interests.

......

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 131 of 2020

2300hrs:

The People's Assembly 2.0

Coinciding almost neatly with today's version of our weekly programme: 'In Search of the Internal Narrative 4.0 - Dadyaal AJK':

.......

The following programme on JKTV may begin the much awaited unravelling of a very clever plot:

UK's Labour Party appears 2 begin inadvertently untying d Gordian knot it tied by partitioning the Indian subcontinent n 1947. Perhaps destiny has determined that geopolitical revision n the region must obtain its inspiration from #JandK #Kashmir #UKLabour https://t.co/rCaRMT2bNB

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) May 11, 2020

As the programme link is not directly embedded in the tweet above. Here are my comments in real time and in response to what Afzal Khan MP of Manchester Gorton constituency (and originating from Bhimber in AJK) had to say on behalf of Labour's new leader Keir Starmer:


The timelines quoted below coincide as responses to each particular statement/viewpoint submitted by Afzal Khan MP:

At 12:05 
British State policy is effectively flawed, self serving in the sense that it makes Britain immune from any responsibility of creating the J & K conflict in the first place in 1947. It is also amazingly circular because if you explain to any British political party that India and Pakistan are not capable or inclined to work with the people of Kashmir - except on their own terms with no regard for the local/people's/narrative - for the sake of the Lord just yesterday both armies exchanged fire on the LOC and killed an innocent mother in Polas, Abbaspur, Poonch Sector! 

So, when you explain that to a British political party they then alter their tone slightly and talk of UN resolutions which again have no local input from J & K and are essentially bilateral in nature. They are also only advisory and have no executive/legal/political significance except to replay the status quo which Britain designed in 1947. A strategy based on nurturing hatred between Hindus and Muslims. So, the United Kingdom has it carefully worked out whereby it circles the argument from London to Delhi and Islamabad, occasionally referring to New York as an alibi when need be before returning to Delhi and Islamabad. 

Whatever happens London remains intact and the people of Jammu Kashmir & Allied remain disenfranchised and tormented throughout each circle and cycle. This is dishonest on the part of the United Kingdom and they have to give way to a democratic, ethical, legal and peaceful outcome designed by the ultimate affectees of this British postcolonial design: The various inhabitants of Jammu Kashmir & Allied in an unconditional and inviolable manner.

At 13:30
The Labour Party has a very poor record of speaking about human rights in AJK and GB. Perhaps, it could improve in that sense. It seems to view the pro Pakistani voter as a hornet's nest, not to be touched if possible.

At 14:18 
The work being carried out that he refers to is not likely to be result orientated as it conflicts with British State policy. It could even spell the end of the Labour party if this work was carried to its stated end!

At 16:14 
The people can only decide if they design the process. When they are not on the design table that means that they are only part of the menu. Afzal Khan and others need to understand that.

At 18:23 
See....this is the crux! Debbie Abrahams and Co came to AJK (GB not included of course) but their short stay was under a very controlled environment with no access to civil society. 

This Is Machiavellian!

At 18:59 
Afzal is misinformed. Both UN OHCHR reports are available at ajkpublicagency.org

At 19:27 
UN OHCHR Report - 14 June 2018

At 1927
UN OHCHR Report - 8 July 2019

At 20:11 
So, you wish to keep the United Kingdom immune from this human tragedy that Britain created here in 1947. That is a bit selfish.

At 22:36 
They do not respect them and the United Kingdom is still not fussed enough about it. That is Indian and Pakistani human rights violations in Jammu Kashmir & Allied.

At 24:34 
That's what hurts the Pakistani narrative so interestingly this whole issue boiling has some motives that suit Pakistan. 

However, we must remember that the India Pakistan relationship designed by Britain operates like a railway track. It has a habit of pushing parity and has clear parallels in it. It allows the United Kingdom to continue churning the cycle of hatred based on religious identities administratively designed during the British Indian era. I am very hopeful though. The United Kingdom is full of sensible people with centuries of thorough research at hand and a most wonderful mixture of communities from all over the world residing within it. It's their collective soul we are searching for.

At 26:20 
He has plenty of time and we as civil society wish to invite him to AJK at the soonest. Thank you.

(Other notable comments followed by my response):

Fiaz Rashid 
It’s shame on the Labour Party representatives to argue that the 72 years Kashmir issue hasn’t found on the Labour Party agenda!!! That There there is a policy vacuum on Kashmir!!!

Reply
Tanveer Ahmed 
I think that reveals a lot!

Fiaz Rashid 
Labour Party is taking Kashmiris for a ride

Reply - Tanveer Ahmed
A 73 year old ride!

Fiaz Rashid
......there has been no change in policy......however there is no policy on Kashmir.

Reply - Tanveer Ahmed
There is but it has been hidden from view to date..

Fiaz Rashid
Starmer is giving different messages to different groups 😃

Reply - Tanveer Ahmed
Like a good politician!

End.....

We can in fact deliver an actual embed of the programme on JKTV's page:

Note: My comments are not in this version of the programme. They are in the anchor's own page viz. Shams Rehman

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