1319hrs:
We progress but at a snail's pace given the diverse communications facilities at our disposal. Paying attention to everything that is important in public interest requires us to spread ourselves thinly across all sectors.
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My aim today was to participate for the first time in a monthly event, which has captured my attention for the past few months - for its revolutionary theory combined with practice - aimed to drive civilisation forward. Namely, 'Mithaali Ma-ashara' (Model Society) of Pachwana and Keri in rural Dadyaal, which are twin villages located in Union Council (UC) Kataar.
However, when I arrived at Sandal Chowk, on the main thoroughfare between Dadyaal and Pakistan, where one road to the right links you to Kataar; the main road was blocked because of a sit-in protest, instigated and driven by the women of the region.
They were in shock and anger over what had happened to Kanwal Matloob, an 11 year old orphaned child who went missing on the 8th of November. It wasn't until yesterday that the public learned of what the poor girl had to endure. Sensing the sensitivity of the case, the district police went public yesterday:
Now, these women wanted immediate justice and no less.
Background to the Kanwal Matloob case can be read in a subsequent entry
Other high profile cases of child female rape and murder cases in the region can be read here
Meanwhile, here's some footage of today's event, which also brought me to tears:
I didn't agree with the protest ending, as I felt certainty of justice must be assured to break such public activity. Our track record of law enforcement in AJK is despicable, to say the least.
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Meanwhile, the battle of narratives between Pakistan and Jammu Kashmir & Allied areas (JKA) is going down to the wire in Shaheed Chowk (Martyr's Square) Kotli.
Here's a translation of the above post, written and posted on Toqeer Gilani's own Facebook wall today:
Kotli:
Bullets
- (Jammu Kashmir) Liberation Front workers continue their protest against the Kotli administration for return of their organisational literature.
- A sit in protest at Shaheed Chowk (Martyr's Square) and a rally throughout the city were conducted against the administration and clandestine (intelligence) agencies (of the Pakistani State).
- Slogans of:
'Ghair Mulki Ghaasibo! Kashmir Hamara Chor Do!'
(Foreign Occupiers! Leave our Kashmir (alone)!,
'Gali Gali Me Shor Hay! Intezaamiya Literature Chor Hay!
(There Is Commotion In Every Street & Alley! The Administration Is a Literature Thief!)
and...
'Hamaara Literature Waapas Karo'
(Return Our Literature)
resounded (throughout the city).
- Interference in (local) administrative affairs by the military establishment is illegal and shameful.
- The administration is under constant pressure from the clandestine (Pakistani intelligence) agencies to not return the literature.
- Basic (fundamental) human rights are being denied on both sides of the Ceasefire Line.
- (We) strongly condemn the arrest of Advocate Khurram Parvez from Indian Occupied Kashmir.
- The Pakistani State and its institutions springing into action against (our) 'Declaration of Independence' is the height of hypocrisy and enmity with Kashmir.
- After destroying Pakistan, the Pakistani ruling class is joining hands with the Indian ruling class to stab Jammu Kashmir's freedom struggle in the back.
- (The people of) Kashmir will under no circumstances back down from their right.
- Despite their oppressive and unjust stance, India and Pakistan will have to vacate this territory.
- Participants at the rally and protest sit-in were addressed by Dr Toqeer Gilani, Abid Rajourvi, Ishtiaq Kashir, Zafar Rathore and Haider Ali.
Details
According to details (provided by) Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Toqeer group), their continuous protest to reclaim their organisation's literature resumed 5 days ago.
(Note: Their literature was confiscated on the 15th of October and they began a daily sit-in protest almost immediately. They stalled it after 26 days when the local administration and local traders provided verbal assurances that their literature would be returned. It wasn't and today effectively marks the 31st day of their sit-in protest with that 19 day interruption in between.)
On Friday, the Liberation Front's (political) workers conducted a protest rally throughout various markets of the city of Kotli along with a sit-in protest at Shaheed Chowk, where they conducted a public meeting too. Participants in the rally continued to chant slogans in favour of the return of their literature; against the Kotli administration and clandestine agencies.
Addressing the participants the zonal president of (Jammu Kashmir) Liberation Front Dr Toqeer Gilani said the Kotli administration is deliberately making matters worse. To not return the literature despite promising on two occasions is regrettable. The (local) administration is a victim of (Pakistan's) military agencies and this despite admitting that there is no malicious or anti-social content in the literature. They (the administration) continue to employ delaying tactics or excuses in not returning the literature and cite pressure from (Pakistan's) military agencies, which is disgraceful.
Pakistan's clandestine agencies are illegally interfering in administrative and political matters (in AJK).
It is not only deplorable that (Pakistan's) military personnel infiltrate (everywhere) from shops to masaajid (plural of masjid) and schools to (local) administrative institutions; they also try to scare, threaten (intimidate/coerce) and apply pressure (on everybody to conform); this illegal interference must stop at all cost.
The (very) agencies that have destroyed Pakistan are now hell bent on stabbing the freedom movement of (the people of) the State of Jammu Kashmir in the back, with the assistance of Indian agencies.
On both sides of the ceasefire line basic human rights are infringed and those who propagate freedom are victimised with hateful propaganda as well as being targeted by the State machinery and black laws.
He (Dr Toqeer) said the return of our organisation's literature is our right and under no circumstances will we withdraw our right.
Dr Toqeer further explains that their 4th September 'Declaration of Independence' at Palandri had 'made life a living hell' for Pakistan's occupying agencies as at all cost they wanted to suppress voices calling for the State's freedom, so that they could execute the permanent division of the State (between them and India without consideration for the people of Jammu Kashmir).
The enmity towards Kashmir (rather the people here) and hypocrisy by Pakistan's rulers has come clearly come to the fore. No Kashmiri is willing to trust any government institution or individual (government employee) working for Pakistan.
There is simply and solely a military occupation here and likewise there is a military occupation on the other side (of Jammu Kashmir) too.
People are abducted from the ceasefire line and their families are warned and intimidated to not speak out, else their (abducted) family member will never come back. Even those (civilians) who become victims of (indiscriminate) land mines are also harassed.
From politics to the economy, from resources to jobs and (government occupational) transfers; everything is under the control of Pakistan's military institutions/agencies, while they talk of the rights of the Kashmiri people. These are the extremes of open hypocrisy and duplicity. It is these very hypocritical policies that have not only made Pakistan totally bankrupt economically today, it is also globally a victim of dire diplomatic isolation.
Dr Toqeer Gilani said the esteemed public of the State of Jammu Kashmir will fight for their right to freedom for centuries if need be and despite all manner of force and oppression India and Pakistan will have to vacate the State of Jammu Kashmir.
He (also) clarified that until their organisation's literature is returned the (Jammu Kashmir) Liberation Front will continue their protest.
Dr Toqeer Gilani and other speakers severely condemned the arrest of the famous human rights activist Advocate Khurram Parvez in Indian-occupied Jammu Kashmir and demanded that he be released immediately.
Speakers (at the public meeting and sit-in protest) also demanded that the killer of minor girl Kanwal Matloob in Dadyaal be severely punished and that her affected family be provided relief.
Participants at the protest were also addressed by the president of JKLF in tehsil (subdivision) Khuiratta namely Abid Rajourvi, Ishtiaq Kashir, Zafar Rathore, Haider Ali and others.
End......(of translation)
Today's protest was particularly defiant given that it flouted yesterday's 'chess move' by Pakistan's clandestine agencies to impose Section 144 via the local District Magistrate. Here's a copy of the notice citing the familiar canard of 'enemy elements will use this sit-in protest to pursue their vulgar ambitions':
