A Journey in Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA)............................
from Subject to Citizen
.........autocracy to democracy
.........Dogra Raaj to Awaami Raaj
.........1947 CE to...........................
#WhiteFlags
#Neutrality
#WaterManagement #MirpurtoLondonviaCentralAsia
This is much closer to the time I should be beginning to input my daily content on this weblog. I did try and sleep close to 0100hrs this morning but struggled to sleep, anxious to get my routine right before 'too much water flows under the bridge'. Let's see if I can keep awake till 2000hrs this evening, which would set me up very nicely to wake at this time tomorrow.
I am to set out on another journey today, although I hope to be back by the evening.
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I took the following screenshot at the turn of the year in light of the miracles (or rather debacles) that take place in the (conformist as in conforming to the foreign occupation) political landscape of AJK. As you can clearly from the results of the most recent legislative assembly elections in this territory (2021), the party winning 12 seats of 53 has been 'installed' in power - till the next such assembly election - due in July this year but for all practical purposes, has absolutely no relevance to governance or even democracy.
There are literally a million other reasons why these elections - within the prevailing colonial 'constitutional' structure - have become redundant, especially since the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) exposed what was left of it over the course of the past 3 years.
We are most certainly heading towards a genuinely free government: outlining its peaceful, ethical, democratic and legal procedure under the hashtag #FreeGovtAJK2025 .
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We made it to Palandri just before the shadows darkened, to attend the wedding of Rauf Kashmiri's only son Babar. Fate decided that we couldn't reach there in time to meet various other personalities who had attended the wedding, particularly Dr Nazir Gilani who I am still to meet in person.
My appearance was belated as fated:
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Inevitably, our financial stats changed today after 6 days, given our journey to Palandri.
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:
206
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):
Performed slightly better than yesterday, sleeping at c. 0200hrs and getting up at c. 0930hrs. Practice makes progress and finally we will get it right. One can judge from the stats generated during my 297 day stint at Maqbool Bhat Martyr's Square (2022-2023) how I managed to ensure punctuality to over 90% in arriving at the Square at 0800hrs, whereas in the beginning I was struggling at below 60%.
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It just so happened that today's working schedule coincided with potentially highly inflammatory news emerging from India. Meanwhile, here's a construction more closer to home that we wish to give attention to. We also hope our diaspora can give attention to this educational initiative for our future generations:
Here's the related video in Pahaari:
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It all began a couple of days ago. Google alerts began informing me of wide coverage in Indian media about me sending holy water (sacred to the Kashmiri Pandits) of Sharda for the re-opening of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India yesterday.
I began clarifying my position yesterday when many ill-informed bigots in AJK began claiming to defend Muslims - and no less - Islam by criticising me, abusing me and even threatening me for not only selling my nation but selling my religion too. Here's a screenshot of one such threat emanating from a journalist Shahid Choudhary of Dadyaal, apparently politically affiliated to the Pakistan People's Party as well as the Jamaat e Islami.
A video statement at Jammu Chowk Sehnsa was also in order, to read out JKA PUBLIC AGENCY NOTE #U214822012024 and also the above Facebook post by Shahid Choudhary as an example of how propaganda operates here in AJK whenever it recognises an opportunity:
My punctuality deficit has increased to 507 minutes.
After a few days of progress I have slipped once again.
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A backfooted 'rationalising' attitude displayed by - Pakistan's Advisor to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan - or just another example of Pakistani legerdemain in Muzaffarabad?
We are certain that Qamar Zaman Kaira is working hard to downplay Pakistan's annexation attempt.
He describes the problem as an administrative one in terms of there being no clear link between AJK and the federation of Pakistan, in terms of administering the appropriate share of Pakistan's federal finance to AJK, as it isn't a province or a constitutional part of Pakistan. Further that the Pakistani prime minister as chairman of the (now advisory post 13th amendment) Kashmir Council is not a sufficient enough bridge.
Kaira is categorically saying that there is no intention to take back financial powers from the AJK government via the Kashmir Council (obtained via 13th amendment).
He is also categorically saying that there is no attempt to provincialise (or federalise) AJK.
Qamar Zaman Kaira describes the proposed (15th) amendment as a list of suggestions which required feedback from the AJK government, that it is open to revision and is of course subject to acceptance by the AJK Assembly.
He ends (this particular video clip) with an attempt to butter the audience by using the terminology 'special status' for AJK.
What we are saying is:
You need to de-link from us all together as siding with you (or any other country) is an automatic liability for the most sought after territory in the world. We can only prosper if we are independent. We cannot be independent unless we are neutral towards every other country on earth. The world will only believe us if we can provide a powerful enough ethical argument as to why this is a more meaningful alternative to regional occupation (China, India and Pakistan) and superpower contests between (China and USA).
Possessing world class water management technology and delivering religious harmony are 2 clues to this ethical argument.
As a footnote, we also understand that all other political parties in the AJK Legislative Assembly boycotted Qamar Zaman Kaira's visit to Muzaffarabad, except his own party, namely PPP (Pakistan People's Party).
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Hajeera has on average - at least over the past few years - been the most active tehsil (subdivision) in AJK. In this video, the tehsil's women can also be seen leading the public rights rally:
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Kotli has also registered itself on the anti-15th amendment radar:
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Students in Muzaffarabad have also convened to chalk out their role in the current heated atmosphere:
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In many senses, Haveli is our remotest district in AJK, not least because it juts out eastwards on the map leaving it surrounded on 3 sides by the Indian army. Despite its geographic peculiarity it hasn't been immune to the sentiment throughout the rest of AJK:
I'm late again! I know if I don't arrive every day by 0800hrs (while making up for previous late entries) I will fail in whatever I want to do.
We thought it high time to make some footage for JKTV today on our latest activity in AJK:
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Meanwhile, the Saddaqat Mughal Kashmiri issue continues to consume time of AJK Public Agency but it will go down as notable in the history of AJK, even if purely for the absurd yet predictable manner in which the rotten system of governance in AJK is being exposed by the day.
I was inclined to note and respond to the following FB post by Journalist Fazal ur Rehman of Smaahni which referenced Saddaqat Mughal as will as examined the role of public servants in AJK:
I initially responded in Roman Urdu, as follows:
100% drust! Ab wo waqt aagaya hay ke hum apney sarkaari mulaazimeen jo hamaarey diye huwey paisey pe pal kar parosi mulk ki wafadaari kartey hain ke hum un ko benaqaab karkey sarkaari naukriyo se nikaaley...
Imaandaar aur hunarmand shehryo ki talaash shuru karey aur un ko un ki jagho pe betaye...
Hamaarey apney hi logo ki khudgharzi ne humey ghulaam rakha huwa hay.
India aur Pakistan ka koi kamaal nahi.
Britaaniya ne un dono ko 1947 me kaha ke jao aur Jammu Kashmir ki mumlikat ko cheen lo...aur is ko aik militarised zone banao qayamat tak.
Militarised zones me maqaami logo ke koi huqooq nahi hotey aur jin mulko ki faujey aisey malawas hoti hain un ke apney log bhi ghurbat me hi dam letey hain.
End of Roman Urdu note....
Translation of FB post above followed by translation of my Roman Urdu note above:
He who is not loyal to his country
Is a hypocrite, indeed he's the traitor
Jammu kashmirians (JKians) should be loyal to their motherland
The State of Jammu Kashmir
Saddaqat Mughal's arrest is unconstitutional and illegal
Confinement is in fact kidnap and akin to unlawful detention
Jammu Kashmir Republic Movement - Shaista Khalid
End of FB post above....
My response:
100% correct! Now the time has come that we expose (those from) our government employees - who are fed, clothed and housed with our donated money (taxes) - yet they observe loyalty to our neighbouring country viz. Pakistan. The guilty should be dismissed from government jobs forthwith....
We should already be searching for honest and skilful citizens to replace them....
Our own people's selfishness has maintained our status as slaves.
This is by no means a wonderful achievement of India and Pakistan.
Colonial Britain told both in 1947 to go forth and seize the country of Jammu Kashmir....and convert it into a militarised zone till doomsday.
Local inhabitants do not have any rights in militarised zones and countries that get their armies embroiled (in such territories), also force their own people to breathe and die in poverty.
End of translation....
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The Chak-Haryam Bridge or rather the c. 20 year old incomplete Chak-Haryam Bridge at Akaalgarh would shorten the distance to Mirpur by at least an hour for anyone living north of Akaalgarh (including Chakswari, Dadyaal, Sehnsa, Kotli etc.) and even a few kilometres south by c. 40 kilometres.
Apparently, it was promised by the Pakistani State to the people of this region after the forced upraising of the Mangla Lake in the early 2000s. It hasn't been completed to date, while its budget has far exceeded the original estimate and many a politician and bureaucrat - in AJK as well as Pakistan - has feasted on its incompleteness.
Despite sporadic lobbying by various social and political entities in the region over the past 2 decades - some UK MPs of AJK origin also put in a good word too at some point but to no avail - now, recently elected president of the Mirpur Bar Association Imtiaz Raja has decided to take the 'bull by the horns' by consistently focussing on mobilising the public combined with persistently pressing the authorities for its completion, as imminently as possible.
In this video, it can be seen that he has taken a delegation to meet Qamar Zaman Kaira in Pakistan's capital, the PPP politician who in the recent power shuffle in that country has been deputed as an advisor to the Pakistani prime minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan:
AJK public Agency has explained to the municipality of Kotli that despite attempts over the past few weeks - through notable citizens of Kotli - we were not able to receive a large bin (with lid) for keeping Shaheed Chowk clean and green. We have now decided to get our own made and have informed the municipality that they are welcome to provide us the required bin(s) at any point in the future.
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Update 1530hrs on Wed 9 March 2022:
It is understood that the local administration is under increasing pressure to evict me from Martyr's Square Kotli. Today is Day 49. So, we need to be clear where all this 'heat' is coming from.
We also need to understand that we are on the precipice of permanent division of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA).
Martyr's Square (Shaheed Chowk) Kotli is our last line of defence. If the public protects me, we will avoid division and continue travelling on the path of becoming amongst the top 10 economies of the world, with associated quality in governance.
If the public cannot hold Shaheed Chowk, we are staring down a dark barrel.
All contingencies must be activated asap.
End of note....
An Urdu translation of the above note:
تازہ ترین
1530 بجے منگل 09 مارچ، 2022:
شہید چوک کوٹلی سے مجھے اٹھانے کے لئے کوٹلی کی انتظامیہ پہ پریشر بڑھ رہا ہے۔ یہاں بیٹھے ہوئے مجھے 49 دن ہو چکے ہیں۔لہذا، ہم اپنے ہم وطنوں کو یہ سمجھنا چاہئےکہ یہ حرارت کہاں سے ا رہی ہے۔
ہمیں یہ بھی سمجھنے کی ضرورت ہے کہ متحدہ جموں کشمیر کو مستقل طور پہ تقسیم کرنے کی سازش آخری مرحلے تک پہنچ چکی ہے
شہید چوک کوٹلی ہمارے دفاع کا آخری حد ہے۔ اگر عوام مجھے محفوظ رکھتے ہیں تو ہم ریاستی تقسیم کو روکیں گئے اور دنیا کی دس بڑی معیشتوں کی صف میں کھڑے ہونے کی جدوجہد جاری رکھیں گئے، جس کے ساتھ عمدہ اور بہترین نظام حکومت بھی شامل ہے۔
اگر عوام شہید چوک کا دفاع نہیں کریں گئے تو ہم مزید گہری سرنگ میں چلے جائیں گئے۔
تمام تیار کی گئی حکمت عملیوں کو جلد از جلد حرکت میں لانا ہو گا۔
End of Urdu translation....
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Meanwhile, the status of freedom of speech in AJK:
Inter-Universities Speech Competition is being organized by Kashmir Liberation Cell. The restrictions imposed on participants in this speech contest show how much freedom of expression there is in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir? Please take a look.👇#Freedom_Of_Speech_In_POJK ? pic.twitter.com/Mw92AEodBx
Mono narratives = repression = slavery = a war against humankind
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On the other hand, it has been fascinating to see AJK politicians associated with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) merging their party flag with the 'Azad Kashmir' flag and shouting slogans of freedom from Modi and Imran, from Delhi and Islamabad; in Pakistan's capital Islamabad:
پیپلز پارٹی کے لانگ مارچ میں آزادی خود مختاری کے نعروں کی گونج۔۔۔✌🏻
Another visit just after midnight....this time by a notable local political leader of the PPP (Pakistan People's Party) Farhat Abbas Kazmi. He was accompanied by some notable local journalists and followers of Kazmi Sahaab.
Thanks also to Shehzad Rathore journalist and Siddiq Rathore of the JKLF, in particular. The media coverage was provided by TNN (Taiz News Network) based locally in Kotli.
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I'm really heartened to know that the public of AJK is protecting me. That is enough for our collective success.
What happened to our students (both male and female) at AJK University Muzaffarabad in reaction to protesting their right to have online examinations is shameful and despicable behaviour, on the part of the administration:
یہ ویڈیو انڈیا مقبوضہ کشمیر کی نہیں بلکہ پاکستان مقبوضہ کشمیر کی ہیں۔۔کشمیریوں پر ظلم بند کرو pic.twitter.com/a07mACJjox
Meanwhile, at around midday we had the following spectacle to witness passing by our 'Public Policy Workshop':
#AJKPM arrival n #Kotli U would imagine we lived in 1 of the most culturally thriving societies in the world, given the fanfare. We should know that #AJK has amongst the worst educational, health, justice, environmental and scope for economic opportunities delivery in the world. pic.twitter.com/ra9Z765XT5
Others in the diaspora - particularly in Luton - are doing their bit to mobilise the masses. Many thanks to Aqeel Butt of Kotli and Luton:
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Here's an example of democratic behaviour emerging in AJK:
Translation of text in photo above:
An example of democratic behaviour capable of being emulated.
Mirpur: Tuesday 15/02/2022
Presidential candidate for the lawyers' district bar association Sidra Latif Advocate was contesting against the freshly elected president of the district bar association Imtiaz Hussain Raja.
She is seen here presenting a bouquet of flowers as a congratulatory gesture to her adversary.
End of translation....
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The following is what happens to journalists in Pakistan who engage in anti-corruption drives, for the love of their country:
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In a similar vein, here's proof that Pakistan does not have any legal, democratic, peaceful or ethical stand on JKA.
Here's a statement from the victim first off:
"Today was the hearing of my petition at Islamabad High Court. Instead of looking into the legal course of the suspension of my passport, whether the concerned and relavent departments or the state institutions took the due legal course or not? Or whether they act with impunity to deprive a person who isn’t a natural citizen of Pakistan. Or who didn’t commit any such crime against Pakistan or didn’t instigated or take part in activities or threat to the sovereignty of Pakistan.
The honorable court has asked my counsel Syed Nisar Shah Advicate to submit an oath or affidavit of loyalty to Pakistan from his client and that’s it.
Where are the rules and law?
Justice delayed is justice denied."
End of statement
Do I need to elaborate any more after watching this video?
I don't think so. In short, trying to force an aspiring citizen of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas - namely Jamil Maqsood of Rawalakot and residing in Belgium to pledge loyalty to Pakistan in order to obtain a Pakistani passport (an enforced practical compulsion as it is) without providing any opportunity to the defendant in a court of law is bizarre, to say the least.
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Some not so random clicks from today:
Early morning at Shaheed Chowk
Morning at Shaheed Chowk
My late namesake who was an advanced pilot in the Pakistani airforce
Kicking off the People's attendance register in the evening
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Just before that last photo, we had another interesting interview to give. Many thanks to Z A Aftab for his initiative:
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Latest Update on Malik Waseem (Land & People of JKA saga) -
Tue Feb 15 2022 at 1700hrs
Family statement:
The Muzaffarabad administration is hell bent on closing all legal/civil avenues for us to challenge our eviction and right to tenancy (not ownership) on Ratan Singh and Sardar Singh's land.
Note: We wish to remain caretakers until the return of this Sikh family's descendants.
The administration has begun threatening to abduct the women of the household once again and to trap Malik Waseem's elder brother Malik Naeem in (an)other charge(s).
Malik Waseem is still in jail and not being released because - amongst other compulsions - the DC Nadeem Janjua is using personal enmity against Waseem, to ensure he fulfills the duties he's been given by his superiors, included the British taxpayer funded (viz. his higher education) Commissioner Muzaffarabad Masood ur Rehman.
They are forcing us to refrain from using social media to highlight our plight. Meanwhile, they are intent on getting a 'deal' out of us (to forego our claim of living on the land we have been living on since 1949).
Not even a single member of JKNSF is standing with us today. Not a single public demonstration or strike has taken place.
This is truly worrying.
Our strife is mounting. It is likely that Malik Naeem (Waseem's elder brother) will also be trapped in 16 MPO (like Waseem) as a convenient silencing tool by the administration.
The latter are hell bent and have strict orders to 'bury' this case.
Legally, as we were already in possession of a 'stay of execution' on the land and property (technically even before we were violently evicted on the 17th of January); we re-entered on February the 7th. All monitors will recall that the area was swarming with police all evening and beyond into the next day (Feb 8), when the police pounced on Malik Waseem and violently thrashed him in public, while he was en route to the court.
Now, the administration is once again ordering us to vacate the property, despite a 'stay of execution'. In other words, they are openly flouting the law!
Furthermore, the administration is repeatedly urging us to make a 'deal' and leave the property voluntarily. That is the only way Malik Waseem can be released, they insist.
They also repeatedly tell us that if you don't leave voluntarily we will violently evict you again and at any time, without notice.
It seems as if the whole administration is hounding us.
Our lawyer Sardar Shaukat has also not been able to withstand the pressure. We understand that action is being taken to revoke his legal practice licence.
We are now well and truly at the mercy of the land mafia/capital administration.
End of family statement....
My notes:
The penultimate sentence is most crucial I think. Being deprived of legal counsel is just one step too far in a tragic comedy of errors, made by Masood ur Rehman and Co.
This opens up all the space we need to rectify the land revenue department of AJK.
We have solicited legal assistance from a number of international human rights organisations, in light of these inhumane developments - and will soon make public - who will be representing Malik Waseem and his family.
I did warn the administration that the more desperate they will get, the more errors they will make. Essentially, they are hard at work, digging their own grave!
End of report...
An Urdu rendition of the above update:
رتن سنگھ،سردار سنگھ نلوچی مظفرآبادزیرقبضہ پاکستان
کی جائیداد متروکہ قابض ملک وسیم بیدخلی مروجہ سسٹم آزاد جموں کشمیر
از سے نو حکم امتناعی جاری ملک وسیم کی فیملی کا از سر نو حکم امتناعی ملنے کے بعد قبضہ کی بجالی کی اطلاعات تاھم نوعیت اور تفصیلات ملنا باقی ھیں۔۔
ملک وسیم بدستور بند حوالات ھے شنید ھے کہ 16 ایم پی او کے تحت یہ حراست یا گرفتاری ھے۔۔
ملک وسیم اسکی فیملی و برادر کو رضاکارانہ طور پر دستبرداری کے لیے حربے استعمال ھو رھے ھیں انکے بھائی نعیم ملک کو بھی 16 MPO کے تحت گرفتار کرنے اور یوں دستبردار ھونے کے اسکے علاؤہ بھی حربے آزمائے جا رھے ھیں یا نہیں۔۔
یہ سب قابل تحقیق تو ضرور ھے اور رتن سنگھ سردار سنگھ کی متروکہ املاک یا آراضی و جائیداد ملکیتی حثیت کی تنسیخ تو کسی صورت ممکن نہیں۔۔ ریاست کا فیصلہ ھونا ابھی تک باقی ھے۔۔ عدالتیں تو مروجہ نظام اور سسٹم کے مطابق فیصلے دیتی ھیں لیکن اس بظاہر جاری و ساری نظام کی نوعیت تو حتمی و قطعی قرار دینے کی پوزیشن تو ابھی کلیر نہیں۔۔
یہ بھی شنید ھے کہ سوشل میڈیا پر اس ایشو کے ہائی لائٹ نہ ھونے دیا جاسکے ایسی خواہشات کا مظفرآباد انتظامیہ کی طرف سے ظاہر ھونا اور محسوس ھونا یا محسوس نہ ھونے دینے اگرچہ اس کی تردید یا تصدیق باقی ھے لیکن ایسا ھونا عجب بھی نہیں۔۔
انتظامیہ کا اس معاملہ کو آنا کا مسلہ بنا لینے کے عوام الناس کی جانب سے تذکرے اھمیت کے حامل ھو سکتے ھیں۔۔
اگر عدالتی حکم امتناعی کے باجود ملک وسیم کو جیل میں رکھنا اسکی فیملی کو پھر بیدخلی کے لیے حربے آزمانے کو اس تناظر میں بھی دیکھا جا سکتا ھے کہ ایسا توھین عدالت کے زمرے میں آتا ھے۔۔
اس کیس کے وکیل سردار شوکت ایڈووکیٹ کے متعلق بھی یہ تذکرہ ھے کہ وہ لینڈ مافیا کے مؤثر اور طاقتور حربوں و ھتکنڈوں کا سامنا کرنے میں دقت محسوس کر رھے ھیں۔۔انکے پریکٹس کرنے کے لائسنس کا بھی شاید معاملہ بن سکتا ھے۔۔
ایسی صورت ملک وسیم پارٹی کے پاس آپشنز ختم ھونے کے آثار نمایاں ھونے لگے ھیں۔۔
مسعود الرحمن کا موقف تو سامنے نہیں آسکا۔۔
لیکن اس معاملہ میں عالمی اداروں کو بھی مطلع کیا گیا ھے اور معروف ترین وطن پرست مدبر و سکالر ادیب و صحافی راجہ تنویر احمد خان آف سنسہہ اس وقت کوٹلیPOK کے شہید چوک میں 27/28روز سے بلا تعطل
دھرنے دئیے شعوری جمہوری انسانی و قانونی اور آئینی و عالمی اصولوں کے مطابق برسر پیکار ھیں انہوں نے اس تمام پیچیدگی کے زمہ دار ملک برطانیہ کے بڑی تعداد میں ایم پیز سے رابطہ رکھا ھوا ھے ۔۔
یہ معاملہ میڈیا کے انتہائی چوکس و زیرک اور بولڈ صحافیوں اور اداروں کے پاس بھی ھے جو کسی بھی ھے
اور انسانی حقوق کے دنیا کی کئی تنظیمیں بھی اس پر اب مصروف عمل ھیں۔۔
ایسے میں جب جموں کشمیر کی ریاست کا یہ خطہ جس غاصب قابض ملک پاکستان کے قبضہ و کنٹرول میں ھے
وہاں ایسے واقعات پر پورے ملک کو گرے لسٹ کا سامنا ھے۔۔
گویا مظفرآباد انتظامیہ اس واقعہ سے صورت حال کو مزید بگاڑنے کا بھی خدا نخواستہ رویہ اپنا کر نہ صرف جموں کشمیر بلکہ پاکستان پر پہلے سے جاری پابندیوں کو مزید سخت کرانے کی جانب پیش رفت کر رھی ھے۔۔۔
رتن سنگھ سردار سنگھ نلوچی مظفرآباد کی اس متروکہ جائیداد ھی نہیں دیگر متروکہ جائیدادوں کے تحفظ کے لیے عنقریب جموں کشمیر کے دونوں جانب جموں کشمیریوں کے پلیٹ فارم کی تشکیل بھی کی جا رھی ھے۔۔
End of Urdu rendition....
......
Taking fundamental steps to securitise AJK, beginning from Shaheed Chowk Kotli:
Update 2200hrs on 15/02/2022:
2 Chowkidaars needed for rotating 24 hour security duty
1 young (less than 45) 1 old (older than 45)
Single (no dependents) salary: 15K per month
1 dependent salary: 20K per month
2 dependent's salary: 25K per month
3 dependent's salary: 30K per month
5K for each further dependent, subject to conditions*
The third night in a row that I haven't been able to sleep properly. Two nights at Shaheed Chowk (Martyr's square) Kotli and one night prior which was spent in preparation.
I can barely sit and write but....the show must rumble on...
Malik Waseem is apparently missing again, according to Latif Akbar (President of Pakistan People's Party in AJK and hails from a constituency in Muzaffarabad tehsil/subdivision) who contacted me this morning, to enquire as to which police station was Waseem detained in. We've also been advised to file a habeas corpus petition on his behalf, by a very senior lawyer.
More (and much more) in a bit....I can barely keep my eyes open.
......
1512hrs: (Update)
I managed to get some much needed shut eye for a couple of hours in a friend's shop and this has re-energised me somewhat.
Rain remains incessant and the temperature is dropping too. I haven't been able to sit in the chowk today yet. There are tonnes of matter pending as anyone who is familiar with my work can imagine.
Meanwhile....
The police have insisted that the complainants reference Malik Waseem's detention (without charge) at Saddar Thaana should speak to the DC and that only he could release him. The complainants duly did so with their advocate. DC Nadeem Ahmed Janjua refused to entertain them or their application. This prompted me to contact the DC myself, whom I have been acquainted with in the past.
Me:
Huzoor....can you update us on the Malik Waseem issue. I have been conducting a 'Public Policy Workshop' at Shaheed Chowk Kotli for the past 3 days and there are a few thousand people constantly engaged on this issue - at home and abroad - I will be writing to the British government on this issue and related matters of governance, specifically in reference to their unfulfilled responsibilities under Indian Independence Act. Thank you.... Tanveer Ahmed
DC:
There are decisions of courts
Do study those decisions
Regards
Me:
There is an abundance of ambiguity and contestation about due legal process in reference to this case as well as over 80% of land (revenue department) related decisions in general, in AJK.
Please note the role of Judge Tariq Custodian who the evicted family claim tampered documents, which were then subsequently used as reference in subsequent court proceedings, which ultimately led to decisions being made against this family.
The evicted family have made it clear that they want an official enquiry into the court record on this issue.
The AJK administration is effectively displacing a poor refugee family from Evacuee Property to give it to another refugee who has since settled in England and who doesn't suffer from the conditions that this poor family does. In other words, the latter is not dependant on this land and will only sell it to the highest bidder. The human cost of this commercial transaction is too much for any right minded public rights activist to bear.
In the wider State of JKA perspective since 1947, this case takes us back to those events and forced migration in particular. The land in question belongs to the descendants of Ratan Singh and Sardar Singh and has been occupied by a poor refugee family of Kupwara, who in turn are being displaced once again for commercial purposes, based on an allegedly malafide procedure.
As this case continues to gain increasing traction at home and in the diaspora the implications could be very far reaching.
Meanwhile, thank you for your response. It has been duly noted.
End of communication....
Now, it has been intimated to me by other sources that Commissioner Muzaffarabad Masood ur Rehman has been tasked with managing this increasingly delicate issue (caught between the Indian, Pakistani and internal narratives of JKA). He's been given such tasks before in his previous incarnations and from direct experience of him, he has always murdered public interest for the sake of powerful lobbies - the Muhammad Ali Murtaza case on the LOC in Khuiratta 2013 - when he was DC Kotli, maybe an exception.
It is also clear from sources that the police and other authorities are keen on blackmailing Malik Waseem by conditioning his release, on him giving a guarantee that he will no longer publicly protest his plight. They've also conditioned the release of the womenfolk of his family from a refugee shelter on similar assurances, backed by a legal bond (machalka) of 50,000 rupees each.
I'm trying to leave Muzaffarabad but Muzaffarabad isn't leaving me. Various trials of endurance seem to occur most when I'm in the capital.
I will try again today.
......
One important item on the agenda in Muzaffarabad was to re-visit the Department of Tourism & Archaeology, in reference to unsettled matters from the 13th of September:
Urdu video
In summary:
1 Nov 2021 outside Department of Tourism & Archaeology in Muzaffarabad after meeting Secretary Imtiaz Ahmed ref #Sharda Peeth
3 matters agreed:
1) Portraits will be restored inside sanctum
2) Notice of request to take off footwear will be restored outside sanctum
3) All restoration work on Peeth will involve prior consultation with the Kashmiri Pandit community
Camera work conducted by: Malik Waseem
English video
1 Nov 2021 @ Dt. T & A Mzd after meeting Sec. Imtiaz Ahmed ref #Sharda 3 matters agreed: 1) Portraits will b restored inside sanctum 2) Notice/request 2 take off footwear will b restored outside sanctum 3) All restoration work n Peeth will involve prior consultation with KPs pic.twitter.com/Vo8YHHv9EH
It's not often that we get to hear the 'real deal' in Gilgit Baltistan, more so on the day that commemorates the 1st of November 1947 rebellion against the Dogra governed State of Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas. Here's an apt example from an opposition leader Amjad Advocate (President of the PPP - Pakistan People's Party - GB Chapter) in the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly:
Translated thus:
........
Let's sample life of our very own nomadic shepherds viz. the Gujjar Bakarwal of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir:
