Will Pakistan empower people of Azad
Kashmir?
Dr Shabir Choudhry London, 20 February 2018
A full-blown debate on Act 74 with many dimensions is raging in Azad
Kashmiri political circles and on social media. Some people are even wrongly portraying
that they are the first one to oppose the Act 74; or demand its abolition. They
give this impression that as a result of their opposition, Islamabad has
decided to rescind the Act 74 or Kashmir Council. This is not true.
It is historical fact that the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Plebiscite
Front were the first to oppose the Act 74 in 1970s in very difficult time. From
platform of JKLF, I and many other leaders like Amanullah Khan, Zubair Ansari,
Afzal Jatalvi and others systematically opposed the ACT 74 in 1980s. Abbas
Butt, Zubair Ansari and I opposed it from the platform of Kashmir National Party,
after we left the JKLF and established the new party. We also opposed this
unjust and imperialist Act from different platforms and in various national and
international conferences in the past decades.
This is not to say that some other political parties have not opposed
the Act 74. I, for one, will acknowledge valuable contribution of other
nationalist parties, especially UKPNP, NAP and others.
Is Pakistan going
to empower people of Azad Kashmir?
Some people are praising Raja Farooq Haider that because of his
struggle, Pakistan will abolish Act 74 or abolish Kashmir Council; and empower
people of Pakistani Administered Kashmir. Before we analyse what Pakistan can
give us or wants to give us, we need to current relationship between Pakistan
and so called Azad Kashmir.
In my considered view, which is based on irrefutable evidence; and is
shared by other true nationals, relationship between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan
is that of occupier and occupied. Pakistan’s policies with regard to Jammu and
Kashmir have been imperial in nature; and have been camouflaged in name of
religion to hoodwink people.
An imperial country does not empower occupied people. They exploit their
resources; and systematically create a class of collaborators to serve and
protect their interests. Occupiers and imperialists enslave people, mentally and
physically, by use of massive propaganda; and by depriving them access to their
history, culture and appropriate education.
We people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially people of Azad Kashmir and
Gilgit Baltistan need to understand that a country that can’t or is unwilling to
empower their own people, will NEVER empower us, who are not legally part of
Pakistan.
There is a long history of denial of fundamental rights to people of
East Pakistan and other provinces like Balochistan and Sindh. Those Pakistanis
who complained or openly exposed Pakistani policies were castigated as traitors
and agents of India and imprisoned and killed. I have no time to explain what
happened to people of East Pakistan in their long struggle to become
Bangladeshis; and how many millions died and how many thousand women were
raped.
One thing must be understood that our motherland is occupied by three
countries, namely Pakistan, India and China; and Pakistan was the first country
that attacked us on 22 October 1947, with intention of occupying us. By keeping
this relationship in mind, we can presume what is in store for us.
Those who have any illusions in mind with regard to our relationship
with Pakistan should remember what was said to Farooq Haider, when he expressed
his opinion on the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and questioned rationale of
accession to Pakistan. He was systematically attacked and defamed on Pakistani
media. Some called him a traitor; and others used extremely objectionable
language against an elected Prime Minister of an area which is not legally part
of Pakistan. Some even said that we should send one Hawaldar to arrest him and
bring him to Islamabad. This statement sums up our relationship with Pakistan.
What can Pakistan
give us?
In view of the above relationship, what can Pakistan give people of
Pakistani Administered Kashmir to ‘empower them’. With each administrative
structure Pakistan enacted for us, Pakistani hold on the territory was
strengthened. Before the Act 74, there was Act 70. It is beyond the scope of
this short article to compare the two Acts or the previous Acts like Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Government Act 1964, Act 1968; or Rules of Business of 1952 and 1957. However,
suffice to say that with Act 74, the Pakistani hold on Azad Kashmir
became even stronger.
We are called Azad, but there is very little our elected or selected
government can do without the permission of Rulers and agencies of Pakistan. Political
and administrative hold of the Pakistani parties in Azad Kashmir is almost
complete. We cannot even select candidates for elections.
The last gift from Islamabad in the form administrative structure was
given to us in 1974, a document prepared by the Pakistan Law Minister Abdul
Hafeez Pirzada. Our ‘empowered and liberated’ Assembly Members signed the
document without even reading it because Pirzada Sahib had no time to wait. His
mother was unwell and wanted to go back to Islamabad with a signed document.
After 44 years of political struggle, we hear that something new is
being considered. My fear is what is coming, may not be good for us. They may
change a title, or put a new label on the bottle by curtailing more powers.
The educational, legal and political system prevailing in Azad Kashmir,
only produces more mental slaves of Pakistan. Pakistan has the following
institutions that control Azad Kashmir; and without their consent no Prime
Minister of Pakistan can give any more rights to people of Azad Kashmir. It is
practically not in his power to do it.
1.
General Head Quarters;
2.
Inter-Services Intelligence;
3.
Military Intelligence;
4.
Intelligence Bureau (more than 12
other agencies);
5.
General Officer Commanding, Murree;
6.
Prime Minister of Pakistan;
7.
Minister of Kashmir Affairs;
8.
Kashmir Council;
9.
Chief Secretary;
10.
Inspector General Police;
11.
Finance Secretary
12.
Accountant General
All the above are Pakistanis; and treat Azad Kashmir as a conquered
territory. Which one of the above will voluntarily relinquish his powers to
empower people of Azad Kashmir?
Apart from undeniable consent of the above institutions and individuals,
those who practically rule Pakistan, will have to take other matters into
consideration, for example, implications of the CPEC. What are the Chinese
concerns with regard to Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir; and how to satisfy
them. In my opinion, Chinese demand would be to end this ambiguity related to
the legal status of these areas.
In view of the above scenario what can we practically get. May be a new lollypop
or a new and beautiful label with old wine; or maybe they change the bottle to
make us think that we have got something new. For example, if they change name
of the Kashmir Council to Senate, or something else with some other cosmetic changes,
will we be happy?
Remember, imperial powers give with one hand, and take back with both
hands. Imperial powers do not relinquish their hold voluntarily to gratify people
of their colony. When they find it difficult to keep their control, they pass
on the power to their proxies who have been set up and nourished for this
purpose that they can serve their interests after they leave. In my view, for
Pakistan that stage has not arrived in Azad Kashmir, if anything, their hold on
this territory is stronger than ever, hence nothing substantial is coming our
way.
The
writer is Chairman of South Asia Watch, London, and author of many books on
Jammu and Kashmir and terrorism.
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