Daily Diary (DD) - Day 22 of 2026

0932hrs:

Reverse gear mode today despite getting to bed by 0830hrs and getting to sleep by 2200hrs or so. I didn't get up till about 0700hrs, yet again 4 hours away from my target start.

I need to fight much harder.

.... 

You all need to understand this in the context of generating social cohesion to re-unify and bring intellectual prosperity to Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas). 

There are compelling geographic and ecological reasons for this. 

Being true to the land and nature of where you were born and where your family may have lived, loved, suffered & prospered for centuries is a genuine human sentiment, capable and justified in creating that social cohesion (through trust building in the markets) which will deliver that intellectual prosperity. 

What goes around comes around. 

Our people need to come out of the capitalist-communist dichotomy and other mistargeted global aspirations. 

JKA PUBLIC AGENCY Note: #E092222012026

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Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

207

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

85

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

537

Cash in Hand: 67,510

Cash Deposits: 2,41,700

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 271 of 2022

2038hrs:

Day 115 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0806hrs

My punctuality deficit has increased to 45 minutes. This is sickening!

Punctuality percentage: 65 days on time or early of 115 = 57% punctual.

.... 

Day 16 on Twitter Spaces delivers our 3rd public policy review:

Set a reminder for my upcoming Space! https://t.co/K90J1XSvQ5
Reviewing what we've discussed in the past 4 episodes on:#Demilitarisation#PopulationCensus#Taxation#MandirsAndGurdwarasInAJK

Practice makes perfect and words should lead to action.

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 28, 2022

Associated reference:

Reclaiming Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) For Her People and the Evolution of AJK Public Agency:

Do we expend further energy on reforming our Governance within the prevailing structure or do we rebel like they did in 1947? 

Or is there a middle path? 

Link

Space Count (That is: How many people have engaged so far): 73 (updated at 1807hrs on 08/10/2022) 

Average space count (16 days so far): 148

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 261 of 2022

1953hrs:

Day 105 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0801hrs

My punctuality surplus has decreased to 26 minutes. 

Being 38 seconds late is still late and has to be recorded as such. There is nothing more powerful and eternal than truth. The last time I was late was on Day 242 of 2022 or Day 86 at the Square or 19 days ago. The bright side is that this has been our most punctual consecutive run to date. 

Punctuality percentage: 59 days on time or early of 105 = 56% punctual.

....

Onwards and upwards towards Day 6 of our evening interaction, despite the marginal punctuality lapse this morning.

We have decided to review our performance and interaction over the preceding 4 days, on every 5th day. This will - amongst other features - give our listeners breathing space to digest the various aspects of public policy:

Set a reminder for my upcoming Space! https://t.co/MdqL8j5oXW

Reviewing what we have learnt and unlearned on our journey so far about:#Security#Governance#Economy#Culture

Introspection opens avenues unnoticeable hitherto.

Ref:#PublicAssemblyAJK#AJKPublicAgency

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 18, 2022

 Associated reference:

The concept of OBMs or Ownership-Building-Measures was introduced by myself in Rising Kashmir on 19 April 2011. This article was referenced by the late Professor Richard Bonney at a Kashmir Conference in a UK parliamentary room a month later, then critiqued.

Link

Space Count (That is: How many people have engaged so far): 63 (updated at 1559hrs on 19/09/2022) 

Average space count (6 days so far): 94

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 259 of 2022

1934hrs:

Day 103 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0800hrs

My punctuality surplus remains constant at 27 minutes.

Punctuality percentage: 58 days on time or early of 103 = 56% punctual.

....

We are already into Day 4 of our daily Twitter space:

Set a reminder for my upcoming Space! https://t.co/SW6HoFgOvx#TaxationRepresentation#MirpurtoLondonviaCentralAsia#GlobalSupplyChains#ResourceExtraction

Remaining disconnected in a very connected world

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) September 16, 2022

Associated reference:

You will find the Upper Jhelum Canal Agreement of 1904 here: 

Link

Space Count (That is: How many people have engaged so far): 70 (updated at 1816hrs on 17/09/2022) 

Average space count (4 days so far): 99

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 227 of 2022

1303hrs:

Day 71 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0741hrs

My punctuality deficit has decreased to 322 minutes.

....

In pursuit of a neutral JKA it is important that the world understands that we identify occupation of all kinds as occupation. Hence, our second black day in a row:

#BlackDay15August @ #MaqboolBhat Martyr's Sq. 2 black days n a row n #Dadyaal
We sent a msg 2 #Pakistan y'day & we r sending a msg 2 #India 2day. We recognise ur right 2 celebrate ur independence but we want u 2 realise it has come @ the expense of our freedom.#JKASovereignty pic.twitter.com/rYPPUw2s3c

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) August 15, 2022

....

The following quotes will always haunt India until they vacate this territory. It should be remembered that we suggest the same for all foreign forces:

....

In the recent wave of protests throughout AJK we have also noticed government servants also protesting for a pay rise in light of the spike in living costs. These particular government servants in Dadyaal gathered en masse to remind the government of their unfulfilled promises. They also threatened to increase the volume and velocity of their protests if their demands were not met:

For those of you who cannot read the description within the video embed, here it is:

We interview Abdul Malik Bhat who is advisor to the president of the teacher's association of AJK. We understand that government employees in the State of AJK have not been given a pay rise in line with the recent hike in inflation, despite being assured and promised that they would be accommodated by the AJK Government. They also point out that government employees throughout the 4 provinces of Pakistan plus Gilgit Baltistan have all been given a pay rise to combat inflation.

They vow to increase the intensity and scope of their protests onto the streets of AJK if their 'just' demands are not met.

Matloob Hussain - district vice president (of the teacher's  association) Mirpur also adds his point of view.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 184 of 2022

1830hrs:

Day 28 at Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Square - Dadyaal.

0808hrs

....

Subject of the day: Trolling on social media by fake IDs 

Today, we'll get some misleading and masquerading clutter out of the way once and for all. 

The following bogus ID is currently masquerading as: 

Christroller Henry Gayle @Chris_Gayle_ 

on Twitter 

He (or perhaps she?) has previously masqueraded as Brian Lara too! I've taken a screenshot as these types of accounts tend to ebb away after a while, for quite obvious reasons.

Despite this person's apparent partiality towards West Indian cricketers, his or her profile photo seems to be constant. It's a picture of the deceased Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, which at the very least gives away this particular Chris Gayle's nationality.

He or she presumably thinks that they are performing a successful 5th generation warfare operation of the highest order, that will help his or her country - viz. Pakistan - defeat all those 'envious enemies', that are supposedly hell bent on destroying the most successful country that ever existed in the world. 

Allah forbid, if not for these sincere and diligent keyboard warriors in cyberspace - with their skilful concealment of their identity - what would be the fate of Pakistan?  

Apart from West Indian cricketers and Pakistani nuclear scientists, this fake account also seems to invest a lot of time on the people of AJK; either trying to mock their narrative(s) or question their financial interpretation of the balance sheet between AJK and Pakistan. A particular phobia towards those who advocate an independent Jammu & Kashmir and those who provide examples of Pakistan's economic exploitation of AJK & GB, seem to motivate him or her to respond with facetious wisecracks.

Here's the latest example of what I'm enticed or provoked to respond to. Do note his (or her) 'genteel' approach on this occasion:

  

I most certainly will once it is ready 2 B published. I found it difficult publishing from jail n 2020! Meanwhile, I have a suggestion 4 u: Stop hiding behind bogus ID's. It's devious & n insult 2 humanity. It doesn't help ur country either. Indeed, if that is what ur aiming 4.

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) July 3, 2022

I should consider it apt to provide a screenshot of this Twitter exchange too, less it dissolves into thin air, as is the norm when fake accounts come under scrutiny:

Now, this gentleman or lady misses one obvious point: He or she seems so anxious to learn about how much Pakistan economically exploits AJK because they imagine that a delay in publishing such a comprehensive report - or rather providing the perception of such from a fake account - is because no such data exists! He or she is so certain that the Pakistani State has cleverly ensured that no such economic data is publicly available and thus he or she feels that they have hoodwinked the world by repeatedly questioning the delay on my part i.e. they've put a seed of doubt in people's minds! 

Like most fake propagandists, he or she usually misses out on the irony that the Pakistani State has always only published what it gives to AJK as an annual budget and never ever in 75 years has ever even contemplated providing economic data for what it extracts out of AJK!

Predictably, he or she has reiterated their impatience (inputting seeds of doubt as propagandists are prone to do), as the following response on Twitter from the mighty Pakistani 'Gayle force' has been received, as I was writing this particular weblog entry:

Investing time 4 time wasters, if only 2 drill a few nails n their coffin & thus save others from wasting time n the future. Here's an anxious Pakistani worried about his country's BOP with #AJK masquerading as #Gayle or #Lara but not #Chanderpaul 4 more: https://t.co/7x5XWCgJBo https://t.co/UUDffuuIGr

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) July 3, 2022

Here's a screenshot of the above tweet, for reasons aforementioned:

Given the nature of my work there are often delays in producing detailed reports but produced they are, as anybody familiar with my work or those that peruse my weblog can testify. This comprehensive economic survey (examining the financial relationship between AJK and Pakistan) will be the rudest shock to Pakistani propagandists yet.

Brace yourself Mr. Gayle or Mr. Lara or whatever name you decide to masquerade yourself as when it is published. You'll wish you were never so impatient!   

Finally, as explained at the outset, I felt it necessary to confront these imposters once and for all. A little time invested now will ensure I don't have to spare them any time in the future! Indeed, it is wasting other people's time coupled with diversion and obfuscation of knowledge that they rely on most. 

No more!

....   

While the above is clearly external mischief, hell bent on derailing anything positive we do to drive away our occupiers, something more significant that maintains our status as slaves is our approach to our predicament. Thus....

I would strongly recommend all AJK citizens to watch this video, not least because most of our people - at home as well as the diaspora - suffer from this cynicism syndrome:

The public of #AJK can learn a lot from this Ted Talk:
How to escape the cynicism trap (Jamil Zaki | TEDMonterey) https://t.co/PVfIPUSLkd via @TEDTalks

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) July 3, 2022

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 49 of 2022

0919hrs:

Day 30 at Martyr's Square Kotli

Sada e Chanar takes the initiative once again:

........

Our lawyers in Kotli are also beginning to take the initiative too. Many thanks to Raja Mazhar Iqbal Advocate of Kotla in tehsil Khuiratta:

.......

Art and politics. Economic extraction and propaganda. AJK and Gilgit Baltistan:

Translation of the text:

Resources

The United State of Jammu Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Ladakh and Tibet Ha.

Afzaaliyat (The sayigs of Afzaal Hamdani of Hattian)

The 4 direct pipes represent:

1) Pakistan

2) China 

3) India

4) The elites of Kashmir

The calf is the average Kashmiri

End...

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 42 of 2022

0926hrs:

Day 23 at Martyr's Square Kotli

It was a night under the open sky once again, after Day 1 at Martyr's Square. Yes, it was cold but not as cold as on the night of the 20th of January.

..... 

Verily, a martyr never dies. Salute to the struggle of Maqbool Bhat whose legacy is becoming  increasingly prominent by the year. This is year 38 since he was hanged in Tihar Jail, Delhi.

یہ منافق قابض ہمارے قائد کے پوسٹر کو جگہ جگہ پھاڑ رہے ہے اس لئے سبھی بھائوں بہنو سے گزارش ہے کہ #مقبولـہماراـزندہـہے کا استعمال کریں ان کو معلوم ہو کہ ہم خاموش نہیں رہیں گے۔@zaara_kashmiri @sahaafi @UsmanTariqUSK @TeamJKLF @KasHmiRi_237 @MalikAneesKash1 @Raj_poot6 @Soail_Jk pic.twitter.com/oFF6PVCZ7p

— Waheeda Kashmiri (@KashmiriWaheeda) February 10, 2022

.......

Apt!

Translation:

The State of Jammu Kashmir is not disputed, it is a business for India and Pakistan.

11 February is the day of solidarity with the State of Jammu Kashmir.

End of translation...

.......

A reminder and an affirmation:

'Guard of Honour' at #ShaheedChowkKotli for the martyr and icon of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas on his 38th death anniversary. He was born in 1938 which in its way is testament to what goes around comes around. The harder you try to erase him from memory the clearer he appears. pic.twitter.com/tm4Nlmzppu

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) February 12, 2022

.......

Maqbool Butt Shaheed Day 11 Feb in Palandri

Heroes never die Maqbool Butt never die...✌️😊 

........

Now, looking towards our tasks for the future.....to create a world-class system of governance.

8 Regional Comparisons of Economic history:

1) British India economy 1820 - 1956

2) Dogra economy of JKA 1820 - 1952

3) India economy 

1947 - current

4) Pakistan economy 

1947 - current

5) Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh economy

1952 - current

6) AJK & Gilgit Baltistan economy

1947 - current

7) China economy

1949 - current

8) UK economy

1947 - current

The above data will give us a very good grasp of our future economic outlook....

.......

.....

Before the midnight clock turns over into a new date, here's some activity on behalf of Maqbool Bhat's soul outside the Indian Consulate in Houston, Texas, USA:

.......

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 354 of 2021

2318hrs:

It's a shame that I can't detail everything that I notice in public interest every 24 hours. The amount of calls I get on a daily basis informing me of something or the other that merits my attention is unmanageable. One such example was the following protest that blocked the main road between the district capital of Kotli in AJK and Rawalpindi/Islamabad in Pakistan at Potha in Sehnsa, my home subdivision. The issue: Many retired Pakistani army personnel of our territory have not been paid their pensions for months and I understand similar complaints have emerged from other parts of AJK too.

.....

The following is an example of something being published today that I submitted yesterday but had been due many days earlier, if not for the swamp of work at hand:

Many thanks to #NewsIntervention for printing my answers to their questions ad verbatim. It really is a pity that no Pakistani media has ever put any questions to me in 16 yrs & 8 months. It is even more disturbing that #Pakistan is light years behind the rest of the world. https://t.co/p6yesgPgA2

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) December 20, 2021

........

 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 239 of 2021

2322hrs:

Building blocks to develop 21st century governance can be as long as eternity without the desired outcome or as short as weeks and months with a desired outcome. The odds in AJK are in favour of the former outcome but that is where sheer grit, consistent determination and pure will can always change the course of history.

Each and every moment - both passive and active - can count and matter. Such is the dynamism of the age.

.....

The following is a just and valid point:

?????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????
?????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???#TaxFreeAJK#NoFreedomNoTax@AamirfayazA @MalikAneesKash1 @aakmaljarall @IrFaN_KaShMRi @AFTABKASHAR6 @Faisal39068772 @FarhanJ74563677 @WaqarHBhatti14 @kaSh_Miri786 @comradesultan81 @YasinAnjum11 @Jkvoices1 pic.twitter.com/57ahpeWT9k

— AKLM_0FFICIAL_URDU (@AKLM_0FFICIAL) August 27, 2021

...... 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 157 of 2020

1142hrs:

Friday is designated as a rest day but I have been summoned for yet another outing towards the peripheries of Dadyaal. 

I won't go though. Friday is my rest day from physical exertion as I am increasingly exerting myself for the other 6 days of the week.

I also need to develop on this thread as we gradually transition from public opinion research to economic research:

Offer from a citizen of #AJK & #GilgitBaltistan :

10,000 rupees for each #Pakistani citizen per month is what we are offering, subject to their personal income being less than 6 lakh rupees per annum.

In return for #Pakistan agreeing to reduce its military presence in AJK. pic.twitter.com/iz7kHq9Ljg

— Tanveer Ahmed (@sahaafi) June 4, 2020

The above proposition is geared towards addressing the welfare of Pakistani society, which has suffered needlessly for the sake of Pakistan's doomed expansionist strategy in Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas. We have always held good intentions for our neighbours and want an end to this mutual destruction of the region. A seemingly intractable lose-lose situation for all concerned. 

For that, we need to transform this conflict economy environment to a peace economy environment. As the tweet above clearly suggests, we are willing to pay for this transformation.

One must bear in mind that this proposition is a form of income support for working people or those that are in a position to work but can't practically find employment. It would subsidise the earnings of those whose income falls below the threshold mentioned and those who are actively seeking work. Unfortunately, unlike some trolls and ill-intentioned propagandists (which Pakistan has too many of), this is not a blanket offer for every citizen of their country. 

It excludes the vast majority of people. 

For example:

1) Those under the age of 16.

2) Elderly/retired people.

3) Those whose income or assets exceed the threshold.

4) Women who are not active in the workplace.

5) Students and those engaged in other pursuits distinct from full time work.

Finally, it should be reiterated that this proposition is a goodwill gesture to transform the region into a healthy array of peace economies and encourage people to work and conduct business - increase economic activity essentially - and it is not designed as a free for all handout to make people even lazier then they may already be.

It should also be noted that the funds for this 'regional economic package' will come from the public treasury of the whole State of Jammu Kashmir & Allied and not just from AJK. It will be designed, monitored and executed by our own government and not simply handed over to the Pakistani State. We will - needless to say - afford these associated costs too. 

The package is clearly designed as a genuine incentive for demilitarisation. The Pakistani retreat will be in calculated phases while an alternative indigenously led security framework is put in place. This initiative will then open avenues for an Indian military retreat in a likewise manner. Consequent to which, discussions can begin to negotiate a Chinese military withdrawal.

This financial package is not intended for India or China as the context of their presence does not warrant such an initiative. The Indians entered when the Pakistani invasion provided that pretext to them, thus a Pakistani military withdrawal will cancel India's reasoning for its military presence here. Even if you study the UN template on this region, the emphasis on initial Pakistani withdrawal is a conditional feature of that mechanism. 

In short; given geopolitical, diplomatic and economic realities it is 'relatively' easier to make Pakistan withdraw from our territory compared to India and China. Given that they are our Muslim neighbours they should understand our point of view better than others and also understand that this is for their benefit. We deferred to them for 73 years and suffered even more than them for our blind allegiance, now it is their turn to listen to us, not blindly as we did but with very open eyes and ears. Likewise, it is relatively easier to make India withdraw from our territory compared to China.

Overall, we do need a global agreement to protect our neutrality and ensure that our territory is not used by any country to the detriment of any other country. We want to close the doors of conflict in our region and pre-empt looming water wars.

This applies to India and Pakistan as much as it does to China and America.

....   

Meanwhile, the above Twitter post generated a far more energetic conversation on Facebook, where it was initially posted yesterday:

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 16 of 2020

0958hrs:

Proceeding to Baloch.......still on schedule despite all the hurdles in between.

.....

Now, this is what I call lying through one's teeth:

"Let the people of #Kashmir decide what they want. #Pakistan is ready for a referendum or a plebiscite. Let them decide whether they want to remain with Pakistan or to be independent", says #ImranKhan in an exclusive interview with DW's @inespohl. https://t.co/GHrReyNJ1E

— DW Deutsche Welle (@DeutscheWelle) January 16, 2020

Here's the specific clip within the interview where our Western neighbour's political leader simply copies all his predecessors by pretending that his country is the epitome of flexibility when it is actually the master of intransigence. This is the posture that has destroyed Pakistan. It seems IK is no different:

How does @ImranKhanPTI plan to defuse tensions with Delhi?

That's what DW's Editor-in-Chief @inespohl asked the Pakistani prime minister, as tensions increasingly rise over Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/dnUxSviWZZ

— DW News (@dwnews) January 16, 2020

.......

Check out Pakistan's share:



It is 0.13%. Now, compare that to Bangladesh at 0.19%, India at 3.5% and China at 17.7%. The figures for Afghanistan are not available.

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 323 of 2019

1932hrs:

A very eventful past 24 hours but aren't most? The intellect says time is what requires most attention, followed by finance..........

I was supposed to be in Tangigaala yesterday and in Trarkhel today but it doesn't seem likely, as the vehicle's engine is still miles away from being assembled. Not likely by this evening either.

While I'm waiting for my mother to send me some money to pay the balance of whatever it costs to get the vehicle on the road, I meet a relative of mine who has many questions on the past, present and future of J & K. Most reservations at this stage revolve around how we will govern our country, how do we securitise our territory and whether we have enough economic resources to succeed.

I explained that despite living in an autocracy pre 1947, compared to most other countries of the world at the time; our standard was more evolved and arguably even more evolved than what India and Pakistan have achieved to date. 

Our guarantee of security has 2 aspects: 
1) That we remain strictly neutral in a geo-political sense a la Switzerland and not side with any country, ideology or religion in matters of the State.
2) That we become the most efficient managers of water in the world and ensure that water travels down to India and Pakistan in a far more efficient manner than what both countries have managed since 1947.

Of course, we have more than enough economic resources to succeed. Otherwise, why would we be the most fiercely contested and heavily militarised zone in the world?

These are just some short answers to a very lengthy subject. When explaining to our public one has to resort to metaphors or local vernacular to illustrate what has taken years of independent research to understand. 

....

Talking of finance, it seems that genuinely working in public interest invites much celebration and praise from the public but very little practical support, on both sides of the LOC.

Take the case of Waqar Bhatti of Rajouri as an example:

Waqar Bhatti at the Taj Mahal - Courtesy Facebook

The following is an appeal by Waqar's friend for financial assistance in his legal fight:

This is very saddened to share that nobody is supporting us for waqar h bhatti except two people who have contributed their share for his bail case. I don't know what will happen next since we do not have money to pay legal expanses. Sharing here with you the pdf of disctrict court orders who dismissed our bail petition because we could not provide them bribe on time. Now the case is in high court under a supreme court lawyer, we need your support. Please contribute else if we loose this time we won't be able to file in supreme court being exhausted financially and waqar could be sentenced jail for 3 years. Please whatsapp me on +917248488057 to contribute.


یہ جان کر انتہائی افسوس کی بات ہے کہ وقار بھٹی کے لئے کوئی بھی ہمارا ساتھ نہیں دے رہا ہے سوائے دو افراد کے جنہوں نے ان کے ضمانت کیس میں اپنا حصہ ڈالا ہے۔  مجھے نہیں معلوم کہ آگے کیا ہوگا جب ہمارے پاس قانونی اخراجات ادا کرنے کے لئے رقم نہیں ہے۔  یہاں آپ کے ساتھ متعدد عدالت کے احکامات کی pdf دستیاب ہے جس نے ہماری ضمانت کی درخواست خارج کردی کیونکہ ہم انہیں وقت پر رشوت مہیا نہیں کرسکتے تھے۔  اب یہ مقدمہ ایک اعلی عدالت کے وکیل کے تحت ہائی کورٹ میں ہے ، ہمیں آپ کے تعاون کی ضرورت ہے۔  براہ کرم شراکت کریں اگر ہم اس بار دستبردار ہوجائیں تو ہم مالی طور پر تھک جانے کی وجہ سے سپریم کورٹ میں دائر نہیں ہوسکیں گے اور وقار کو 3 سال قید کی سزا ہوسکتی ہے۔  براہ کرم مجھے شراکت کے لئے +917248488057 پر واٹس ایپ کریں۔

.........

Opening Bal. 4,730

X:
20 - kahwa
220 - B & H cig
30 - Toyota fare from Budli to home (Gurutta)
170 - New padlock for home
50 - Telenor load
50 - Strap catcher for laptop bag
40 - Sewing of strap by mochi
3,800 - LCD screen etc for Samsung S3 (3,500) & Earphones/mic 350 (Gave discount of 50)
140 - chaat, pakoras and Sprite
120 - 2 x Mango drinks
1,000 - Advance for engine work part 2
150 - Akhrot (Walnuts)

Y:
50,000 - Mother (n.b. 30,000 is towards fallen wall for home) 

Other material/ in kind support:
Lift from Thriya to Budli - KI
Motorbike ride from Gurutta to Sehnsa - KSA
Lift from Sehnsa to Gurutta - KSA

Abbreviations:

Bal. - Balance
X - Outgoing 
cig - cigarettes
Y - Incoming
KI - Kotli 
KSA - Sehnsa 

Closing Bal. 48,940
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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 319 of 2019

1359hrs:

There is much available on the internet to help us understand the concept of money. I have yet to see a better explanation than the following documentary by Deutsche Welle (DW), a German state-owned public international broadcaster:

Comment:

Yet another humane initiative in which the Swiss are playing a leading role. We in Jammu & Kashmir are being deprived of that status and stature that could make us more Swiss than the Swiss themselves.

.......

Now, why am I not surprised at the following?:



Or with the following?



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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 145 of 2019

2203hrs:

All change comes from within. 

Most people want it to come from elsewhere. 

They think if it comes from within, they will die.

......

There has yet to emerge a solid, thorough economic survey of AJK. However, many have made efforts according to their capacity. Let's have a closer look at the following effort:



I'll translate it here for those of you who cannot read or understand Urdu:




















Note:

It should also be borne in mind that once the academic version of our public opinion survey report is published, our research tools will then concentrate on that comprehensive economic survey report that has eluded our territory thus far.

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BALIMA (TARARKHAL) - HAJIRA

Sunday 10/05/09 Day 9 I'll start with a quote that I picked up from somewhere, I can't quite remember where but it's perfectly attributable to this region, albeit perhaps in varying degrees to India, Pakistan and the two governments on either side of Kashmir. "A government that suppresses opportunity for entire generations cannot expect prosperity or peace." 

It's pretty much downhill all the way to Hajira, except that my rear tyre punctures once again (third time now). The fact is, the inner tube and tyre are of very low quality; it's difficult to expect any better from products made in Pakistan. The subject of lack of justice and merit is repeated many a time as I converse with people along my journey; frustration all too apparent. On a positive note, the literacy rate amongst females is over 75%. They are keen on religious education too. Unfortunately, they are generally unable to impart that education through work as most of them get tied up in domestic life after marriage. Utilising their skills in society (within reasonable limits of course) is necessary for the growth and progress of society. It's hardly surprising that males don't fare so well in education as they are easily sidetracked, they are also well aware that the workplace has very little to do with merit. Rather that nepotism and underhand dealings hold sway over society. 

It is little wonder that the independence movement is gaining momentum in Azad Kashmir. Hajira appears to be a stronghold for fervent nationalism as public graffiti amply suggests. 

A look at the economic relationship between Pakistan and Azad Kashmir may prove illustrative: (Some of the figures are a few years old and cannot be taken as exact, they should just be seen as a general guide) What Pakistan gives to Azad Kashmir - AJK Annual Budget 2200 Crore (c. 183.3 million pounds) What Pakistan receives from Azad Kashmir - -43% of foreign exchange that comes into Pakistan comes via Azad Kashmir (excluding hundi and hawala etc.) - Forestry 1600 Crore (c. 133.3 million pounds) - Mangla Dam (Royalties from electricity) 10,000 Crore (c. 833 million pounds) - Government Sales Tax (indirect taxation) ? (Pakistan has a monopoly on the Azad Kashmir market; only goods/services produced in Pakistan or which come via Pakistan are sold in Azad Kashmir. - Direct Taxation ? 

Despite all the above, every year when Pakistan "donates" it's budget to Azad Kashmir, endless advertisements in most (Pakistani) newspapers felicitate and thank the Pakistani President and Prime Minister on their "kindness" to Azad Kashmir. 

There is a great misperception of dependency on Pakistan. Azad Kashmir has no direct link to the outside world and the cross-LOC movement and trade, restricted though it is, is deemed by many to be Azad Kashmir's first step to Independence from Pakistan. Pakistan's monopoly meant that an 11kg gas cylinder could sell for as much as 1000 rupees. Cross-LOC trade could possibly import 13kg gas cylinders for as little as 300 rupees. 

As people's conciousness, education and global awareness grows; the more assertive they'll become with their political demands. The growth of pro-independence parties despite their legal restrictions on entering the electoral fray give an indication of the future. This evening I also attended the second wedding of my tour.