Daily Diary (DD) - Day 151 of 2025

0959hrs:

Waking up in Muzaffarabad on a Saturday morning once again, just like last Saturday morning, under quite similar circumstances. 

The remote controlled security apparatus in AJK is now becoming farcical. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 150 of 2025

1325hrs:

Alert! 

We have been prevented from proceeding beyond Chattian police checkpost just a while ago (viz. since 1230hrs).

This checkpost is about 9 km before Hattian bazaar, where we stayed a couple of nights ago. 

We - the public of AJK - have to resolve this ambiguous 'security' framework in our territory once and for all, in order to establish an enduring peace in Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas). 

..

It is now 1800hrs and we have effectively been in sit-in protest mode for the past 5 and a half hours. 

Crucial points to note in reference to the urgent need to withdraw the Pakistani State's presence in AJK:

1) The Pakistani State (through 

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 149 of 2025

1420hrs:

After completing our visit of Chikaar yesterday, we are completing our journey from Subri/Tandaali to Hattian today. 

Hence, we are on the verge of completing our #EducationalWalk in 34 of 35 tehsils throughout AJK. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 148 of 2025

2337hrs:

Almost leaving it too late today. The fact that we had zero internet this morning is a factor but never a plausible excuse. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 147 of 2025

1130hrs:

Woke up in Tandaali this morning, a few kilometres off and above the main Jhelum Valley Road. 

We completed the document handover to:

1) President Anees Gilani - District Lawyer's Bar Association - Muzaffarabad

2) President - Central Press Club - Muzaffarabad

The above 2 copies were handed over yesterday while the remaining 2 copies were handed over this morning to:

3) The Prime Minister of AJK - via reception at PM Secretariat - Muzaffarabad

4) Divisional Commissioner - via his personal assistant Arsalaan - Muzaffarabad

.. 

Here's the text of the legal guidance note drafted by Dr Nazir Gilani on the day before yesterday:

Dual Responsibility of Kashmiri Civil Servants/Employees

Duty to Kashmiri people’s right of self-determination under the UN framework

A formal guidance note / internal memorandum template for Kashmiri civil servants employed in the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir or the Government of Pakistan. 

It is structured to offer principled and lawful navigation of the dual responsibility to state employment and the Kashmiri people’s right of self-determination under the UN framework.

Internal Memorandum / Guidance Note

Subject: Navigating Professional Obligations and the Duty to Uphold the Right of Self-Determination of the People of Jammu and Kashmir

To: All Kashmiri Officers and Civil Servants

From: [JKCHR Legal Department]

Date: 25 May 2025

Reference: UN Charter, UNCIP Resolutions, AJK Interim Constitution 1974, International Human Rights Obligations

Purpose of this Guidance Note

This memorandum aims to provide guidance to Kashmiri civil servants employed in the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) or under the administrative framework of the Government of Pakistan on how to lawfully and ethically navigate situations where official instructions or administrative practices appear to conflict with their moral and constitutional responsibility to uphold the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as recognized by the United Nations.

Context and Legal Background

Right of Self-Determination:

The people of Jammu and Kashmir are internationally recognized as holders of the right to self-determination under relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (e.g., 47 (1948), 91 (1951)) and Article 1(2) of the UN Charter.

Trustee Framework of AJK:

Azad Jammu and Kashmir is not a constitutional province of Pakistan but functions under an interim administrative arrangement derived from the UNCIP Resolutions. All officers serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir in a trustee capacity, not as permanent agents of Pakistani sovereignty.

Employee Responsibilities:

While civil servants are expected to adhere to rules of service and perform their duties efficiently, they remain morally and legally accountable to a higher constitutional and international framework regarding the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Guiding Principles for Civil Servants

1. Lawful Compliance with Conscience

Civil servants are advised to comply with lawful orders, provided such orders do not violate the dignity, rights, or freedoms of the people or contribute to the suppression of the UN-mandated right of self-determination.

In cases of conflict, officers should seek written clarification or register a note of concern or reservation, maintaining their professional integrity while documenting dissent.

2. Protected Speech and Conduct

Supporting non-violent advocacy, public education, or legal discourse on the Kashmir issue consistent with UN Resolutions is not prohibited, unless it involves incitement, disobedience of service rules, or unlawful assembly.

Officers are encouraged to participate in or contribute to policy development and scholarship that supports international law compliance.

3. Avoiding Complicity in Oppression

Officers should exercise lawful discretion when asked to implement measures that:

Suppress peaceful protest.

Inhibit access to international legal frameworks.

Enforce narratives or practices that negate the disputed status of the territory.

Any such instructions should be carefully documented, and where possible, recusal or internal reporting procedures should be invoked.

4. Professionalism within Constitutional Boundaries

Article 31(3)(a) of the AJK Interim Constitution 1974 restricts legislation inconsistent with the declared accession to Pakistan. However, it does not criminalize support for UN-supervised final settlement or non-legislative expression aligned with the original intent of the standstill arrangement under UNCIP.

Procedural Safeguards

Civil servants facing difficult situations are advised to:

Maintain written records of orders or instructions that may be in conflict with international law.

Use internal reporting mechanisms to flag potential legal or ethical concerns.

Seek advice from legal officers or constitutional experts familiar with the Kashmir dispute.

Cooperate with national and international inquiries or fact-finding missions in good faith, as permissible under service rules.

Conclusion

Kashmiri civil servants are stewards of an unfinished international process. In serving their administrative roles, they must remain conscious of their fiduciary responsibility to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and to the international legal framework governing the region.

This guidance is intended to offer support in balancing institutional responsibility with principled service to a people and cause that remain subjects of international concern and protection.

For further clarification or legal consultation, please contact:

[JKCHR Legal Division] – admin@jkchr.org

Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani

President, Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR)

In Special Consultative Status with the United Nations.

25 May 2025

Tel: +44 203 371 1202

Fax: +44 208 432 9503

Email: dr-nazirgilani@jkchr.com

@2025 Dr. Syed Nazir Gillani. All Rights Reserved.

Link to Dr Nazir Gilani's weblog

.. 

Here is a copy of the letter as an image:

Page 1 of 3

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 146 of 2025

1542hrs:

Today us our 3rd day of waking up in the capital of AJK, Muzaffarabad. We intend to push on with the remainder of our AJK wide #EducationalWalk to #Sharda today. 

Here's a link to a guidance note written by Dr Nazir Gilani for civil servants/employees of the AJK (and effectively GB) governments respectively:

Link

.. 

This note by Dr Nazir Gilani (Head of Jammu Kashmir Council on Human Rights JKCHR and eminent legal expert on the UN framework in relation to Jammu & Kashmir) is a clear and concise compass within the framework of binding international law - for Government employees of the territories of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) to follow - in light of the increasing awareness and ability of the public, to peacefully protest and creatively agitate for their basic fundamental rights. 

Primarily but not limited to:

Freedom of

1) Expression

2) Movement

3) Association

4) Assembly

and 

5) Recourse to law including international law, where the former is inadequate. 

JKA PUBLIC AGENCY will be handing over a copy of this note today (Monday 26 May 2025) to:

1) Divisional Commissioner - Muzaffarabad

(AJK Administration) 

2) President of District Lawyer's Bar Association - Muzaffarabad

(AJK Judiciary) 

3) President of Central Press Club - Muzaffarabad

(Public at large) 

4) Prime Minister's Secretariat - Muzaffarabad

(Legislature & Executive) 

Having almost completed our #EducationalWalk from the southern tip of AJK to the centre of its northernmost subdivision (tehsil) #Sharda , we were on our final leg of this #Conflict2Peace #WhiteFlag strategy when we were prevented from reaching our 33rd (of 35 tehsils) viz. Chikaar on Friday 23/05/2025, whereby the police cited 'security concerns' and brought us to Muzaffarabad. 

In light of the AJK administration's inability to clarify these security concerns verbally or in written form, we have used the concept of the academically acclaimed 'Ownership Building Measures' to address these lacunae, in public interest. 

Just as a peace strategy has to be framed by the affectees of conflict, self-determination is also to be exercised by the people who have systematically been denied that right. 

We will be delivering a video broadcast in Urdu shortly to cover the main themes of this public interest exercise, ensuring that our public at large is able to monitor and remain abreast of developments in these 2 territories of the State of Jammu Kashmir & Allied (areas). 

JKA PUBLIC AGENCY Note: #E130426052025

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 145 of 2025

1545hrs:

Catching up on sleep today after remaining engaged with an AJK wide public that converged on Muzaffarabad at 2030hrs yesterday evening. The martyr's conference didn't end before 0500hrs this morning. 

....

The following is an English translation of the Urdu text released by Joint Awami Action Committee earlier this morning:

Declaration from the “Martyrs of Jammu & Kashmir & Public Rights Conference”

Date: May 24, 2025 | Venue: Muzaffarabad

Issued by: Jammu & Kashmir Joint Public Action Committee

Public Statement

The overwhelming public presence at Muzaffarabad is a clear and irrefutable expression of growing public discontent and erosion of confidence in the current ruling establishment. The following resolutions and demands are formally adopted and issued in pursuit of democratic rights, constitutional accountability, and social justice in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and the broader Jammu & Kashmir region.

Charter of Resolutions and Demands

1. Homage to the Martyrs

We solemnly honor the sacrifices of the martyrs of Kashmir and of the public rights movement. Their struggle for justice, dignity, and sovereignty shall continue until its objectives are fully realized.

2. Endorsement of Non-Violent Resistance

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to peaceful democratic struggle. Our two-year-long campaign of non-violent civil resistance stands as proof of our belief in transformative political change through peaceful means.

3. Condemnation of Civilian Losses

We express deep sorrow and condemnation over the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of property as a result of cross-border hostilities between Pakistan and India. The human cost borne by innocent civilians on both sides of the Line of Control is unacceptable and must cease immediately.

4. Demand for a Just and Peaceful Resolution of the Kashmir Dispute

We declare that sustainable peace in South Asia is not possible without a just and democratic resolution of the Kashmir conflict, grounded in the will and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

International Appeal: We call upon the United Nations and the global community to immediately implement the long-denied Right to Self-Determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as guaranteed under international law.

Warning: Any attempt to impose a unilateral decision or provoke armed confrontation in Kashmir shall be met with peaceful mass resistance, including symbolic defiance through crossings of the ceasefire line.

5. Warning Against Nuclear Escalation

We warn that an armed conflict between two nuclear states—India and Pakistan—could escalate into a catastrophic nuclear exchange, potentially resulting in the deaths of over two billion people.

Appeal to Global Citizens: Raise your voice for peace, justice, and the self-determination of the Kashmiri people to avert such a disaster.

6. Immediate Release of Gilgit-Baltistan Leaders

We condemn the unlawful arrests of leaders from the Gilgit-Baltistan Action Committee and demand their immediate and unconditional release.

7. Final Ultimatum to the Government

The government is hereby given until June 8, 2025, to fully implement the previously agreed Charter of Demands. Failure to do so will compel us to announce the next phase of public action from the Mirpur Division.

Warning: Should the state push us into action once again, it alone will be responsible for the consequences.

8. Rejection of Elite Privileges and Entitlements

We denounce the recent expansion of privileges, perks, and entitlements granted to political elites and high-ranking officials. These are a direct affront to the struggling masses and must be repealed immediately.

9. Release of Political Prisoners

We demand the immediate release of Yasin Malik and all other Kashmiri political prisoners and freedom fighters currently held in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

10. End to Enforced Disappearances

We demand an end to the illegal practice of enforced disappearances. All individuals taken into custody must be handed over to the relevant legal authorities in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and brought before a court of law.

11. Enforcement of Merit-Based Recruitment

All appointments made on the basis of nepotism, political favoritism, or personal affiliations must be annulled. Only individuals selected through transparent, merit-based processes should be employed in public services.

12. Termination of Reserved Political Representation and External Resource Allocation

We demand the immediate abolition of the 12 seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that are reserved for individuals classified as "Refugees Settled in Pakistan."

These seats undermine the sovereignty of local representation and skew the democratic mandate of AJK.

We further demand the termination of all employment quotas and state benefits allocated to such individuals in the AJK public sector.

All development funds purportedly allocated for this category and spent outside the territorial limits of Azad Jammu & Kashmir must be ceased and reallocated for the benefit of the region’s residents.

13. End to Unannounced Load-Shedding

The practice of prolonged and arbitrary power outages must end immediately. Azad Jammu & Kashmir must be declared a load-shedding-free zone as a matter of public right and policy.

14. Expansion of the Charter of Demands

In light of continued government inaction, our movement now adopts an expanded 16-Point Charter of Demands, including but not limited to:

Free and accessible healthcare

Equal and inclusive education for all

Establishment of an international airport in AJK

Guaranteed access to safe drinking water and irrigation resources

Elimination of systemic corruption, bribery, and nepotism

Final Deadline: June 8, 2025, for full compliance with all prior demands.

Note: This declaration marks the beginning of a new, intensified phase of the public struggle.

(Translated by Shams Rehman) 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 144 of 2025

1108hrs:

A whirlwind 24 hours have passed, beginning with our walk from Sudhangali yesterday afternoon to the outskirts of Chikaar by evening. 

Chikaar police were ordered to prevent me from proceeding to Hattian and Leepa, even though I intended to spend the night in Chikaar before travelling to Muzaffarabad today, to take part in the AJK wide convergence of the public towards the capital city, to commemorate our 3 martyrs who were killed by Pakistani rangers on the 13th of May last year. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 143 of 2025

0949hrs:

Waking up in Sudhangali. With intense greenery and crisp air to remind us that we live in the most precious territory in the world. 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 142 of 2025

2338hrs:

Waking up in Bagh. An industrious city if any city in AJK can be described as such. 

I forgot to log this entry in the morning and it took much ingenuity to fulfill this chore close to the stroke of midnight.

Net connectivity was totally absent at the residence where we stayed in Sudhan Gali. Thus, we had to search for it in the woods of the region. 

....