UKPNP
and observation of 16 March as a National Day
Dr
Shabir Choudhry 18 March 2019
United Kashmir People's National Party, known as UKPNP, has
never been in good books of the Pakistani establishment, because of its
unequivocal political stand and struggle for united and independent Jammu and
Kashmir with liberal and secular society.
The establishment doesn’t mind people talking about an
independent Jammu and Kashmir, as long as they have secret understanding with
them; and comply with their directions.
Many organisations wear a ‘nationalist hat’ to fool people,
and divide the nationalist parties. If their actions are analysed impartially,
then one can see, in reality, they are B team of the establishment.
Furthermore, if you scratch the surface, their true colour
is exposed. Their politics is dominated by their religious and cultural beliefs.
They are not Kashmiri nationalists, they are Muslim nationalists. In essence, they
are Mujahids of novels of Nasim Ejazi, and followers of Mohammed Bin Qasim.
UKPNP, on the other hand is a true nationalist party, with
a strong and dynamic leadership of Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, who does not
believe in making ideological compromises. UKPNP is a forward looking and
progressive party which wants to correct historical records, something which
runs counter to the policy of secret agencies of Pakistan.
Pakistani establishment and some Muslim writers have worked
hard to distort true history of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani establishment and
Pakistani writers have brutally murdered their own history, hence the book of a
Pakistani writer: ‘Murder of history in Pakistan’.
Their mission is to distort history to suit their agenda of
justifying partition of the British India in name of religion. The separation
of East Pakistan shattered the myth built around the Two Nations Theory; and
the Pakistani thinkers and writers had to work hard to defend the un – defendable.
They now assert that separation of East Pakistan strengthened the Two Nations
Theory. What a joke?
Their narrative was that anyone who disagree with their
version of history is anti-Pakistan, traitor and an Indian agent. Many citizens
of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan openly defied this dictation, and they
presented facts. These writers and thinkers were castigated by the
establishment. Sadly, many people influenced by the propaganda of the
establishment regard them as anti-Pakistan, traitor and Indian agents.
I have written dozens of books to correct the historical
facts, hence all the labels I carry with my name. Shaukat Kashmir has also
committed the same crime of correcting the historical facts, and he is also
castigated by the establishment, which not only control Pakistani politics,
they also control what goes on in all parts of the divided Jammu and Kashmir
State.
I joined UKPNP in March 2018. After consulting the Party Chairman,
I issued a statement on 23 March 2018, that, ‘UKPNP will observe 16 March as a National Day.’ I said:
‘16 March was the date when foundations of Jammu and Kashmir
State were laid down; and all freedom loving and true Kashmiri nationalists
should observe this day as a National Day.’
Salient parts are of the statement are produced below to show
that it was our well thought out policy to correct the historical facts, and
honour those who established the State of Jammu and Kashmir and preserved it
till we were attacked by a Muslim brother on 22 October 1947:
‘Religious and regional sentiments aside, bitter fact is that
Kashmir was part of the Sikh Kingdom; and before that Kashmir was occupied by
Afghans and the Mughals. Had situation remained as it was prior to 1846, then
we would have been part of Punjab, and would have been forced to merge with
either India or Pakistan. In worst case scenario, our State which had a special
status could have been divided on communal lines, hence loss of our identity
and historical and cultural heritage.’
I further said, ‘no matter, what
enemies of our independence say or claim, Maharaja Gulab Singh was the founder
of Jammu and Kashmir State; and our demand is to attain the State that existed
on 15 August 1947. We are not hypocrites that we demand unification and
independence of the State, which was established and preserved by the Dogra
dynasty; and refuse to honour their contribution in conserving our status and
identity.’
When we formulated this policy, we knew those who are against
people of Jammu and Kashmir and their fundamental rights, will view observation
of the 16 March as a National Day as a direct challenge to the Two Nations
Theory. We knew they will unleash nefarious propaganda through their official
channels, and through their proxies, some of them with a hat of nationalism on
their heads.
On behalf of the UKPNP, I want to assert that our loyalty
lies with Jammu and Kashmir State, and our people. No matter what our critics
and enemies say, we cannot and will not be loyal to those who occupy us.
It
is shameful that in order discredit Maharaja Gulab Singh, some so called
nationalists judge his rule on human rights with the standards of 21st
century. They forget what was going on in that era in South Asia, and in other
parts of the world. They even forget how our fellow citizens have been treated
since 1947, in Gilgit Baltistan and in Pakistani Administered Kashmir.
Anyhow, we have put our cards on the table, but there are
some cards we are still holding close to our chests. Let enemies of our
independence expose themselves further, by running around like a headless
chicken, and by taking harsh measures against us. This will prove they are
doing in 2019, what Maharaja Gulab Singh did after 1846.
The establishment is sending armed proxies across the LOC
to create disorder and commit terrorism. In Gilgit Baltistan and so called Azad
Kashmir, they are using men in uniform, and proxies belonging to proscribed
organisations to attack us and intimidate us. We will not surrender.
Writer is a renowned writer and author of
many books. He is also President Foreign Affairs Committee of UKPNP; and
Chairman South Asia Watch, London.
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