Views
expressed by a leader from Azad Kashmir: Arif Shahid and his vision, Dr Shabir Choudhry 17 May 2014
It was on 13 May 2013, a nationalist Kashmiri
leader, Arif Shahid was callously
killed outside his house in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It was widely believed that
he was terminated by the secret agencies of Pakistan because he exposed their
designs on Kashmir. Arif Shahid courageously opposed religious extremists and
forces that groomed terrorists, exported terrorism and religious intolerance.
Because of his continued and fearless struggle he had become a symbol of
resistance against Pakistani forces of occupation and secret agencies in Gilgit
Baltistan and so called Azad Kashmir. To date his killers are not apprehended.
We can disagree with his politics and strategies,
but no one can challenge his dedication and struggle for the fundamental rights
of the people. Arif Shahid was a man with vision; and wanted to promote
democratic values and fundamental human rights for all citizens of the State of
Jammu and Kashmir. He believed that religion was a personal matter of
individuals; and that religion must be kept out of politics. He promoted peace
and strongly advocated equality for non – Muslims and other ethnic groups.
He wanted to have united and independent Jammu and
Kashmir with liberal, democratic and secular ideals. He openly challenged those
powers that promoted violence, terrorism, intolerance and hatred. Arif Shahid
was cautioned to stop his activities; but he was persistent and dedicated man.
He refused to surrender; and those who did not like what he did silenced him
forever. Kashmiri nationalists believe it was a target killing.
Arif Shahid had ability to recognise those who were
fake nationalists, and who were working as a ‘B team’ of Pakistan. He felt it
was his duty to expose them that people could not be fooled by them. In his
book, ‘Dagh Dagh Ujala’, he asserts that all Kashmiri
nationalists of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan (minus JKLF Amanullah Khan, which
feels comfortable making alliances with pro Pakistan parties) were part of All Parties
National Alliance; and the JKLF Yasin Malik was represented by late Dr Farooq
Haider. In APNA meeting held in Islamabad, Dr Farooq Haider, in his speech,
‘revealed that this is the last time nationalists of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit
Baltistan were sitting together’. 1
Arif Shahid writes that he was alarmed by this
revelation. ‘There must be some conspiracy going on against our unity. He knew
Dr Farooq Haider had good contacts and generally he was privileged to have
inside information. Few days after this public meeting Dr Farooq Haider invited
Arif Shahid to his residence and told him that he had instructions from the
JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik to leave the APNA, and that we cannot work together’. 2
Arif Shahid explained the importance of this
alliance, APNA, and asserted that it was imperative to make APNA effective to
advance the cause of united and independent Jammu and Kashmir. He said people
of Gilgit Baltistan had grievances and that we all worked hard to bring them on
board. During this meeting Latif Tahir was also present. Dr Farooq Haider
agreed with Arif Shahid, but expressed his helplessness as he could not defy
the instructions of Yasin Malik.
Realising his predicament, Arif Shahid requested Dr
Farooq Haider not to issue a public statement about leaving the alliance, as it
would harm the cause of an independent Jammu and Kashmir. Dr Farooq Haider
kindly agreed to that. Arif Shahid highly appreciated the services of Dr Farooq
Haider. However, he did not have praiseworthy words for Yasin Malik and
Amanullah Khan. He says:
‘A few years
after JKLF Yasin Malik’s departure from the APNA, Yasin Malik visited
Rawalpindi, and Dr Farooq Haider invited all Kashmiri nationalists at his
residence. During the meeting Yasin Malik suggested that nationalists of Azad
Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan should make an alliance. It was astonishing to
hear this from Yasin Malik, as it was he who stabbed APNA in the back by
ordering Dr Farooq Haider to leave the alliance’. 3
In his reply to Yasin Malik, Arif Shahid said that:
‘There was
no need of a new alliance as APNA is already there, and it has representation
from all the regions. Yasin Malik expressed his ignorance about APNA, to which
he (Arif Shahid) said, if you had no knowledge of APNA then why you instructed
Dr Farooq Haider to leave APNA. Yasin Malik had no reply to this and was
embarrassed. Arif Shahid said you come to Pakistan, visit Pakistani cities from
Rawalpindi to Karachi, but you have no time to visit Gilgit Baltistan. The
discussion continued till 1am. Yasin Malik was assigned a target to destroy
APNA, and formulate a compliant alliance. He failed in that. This was a second
attack from Yasin Malik, and by grace of Allah both attacks failed. Our crime
was that we were fighting against Islamabad’s Kashmir policy. We were not
fighting a war against them. Yasin Malik is fighting for Pakistani interests in
Srinagar; we are voicing against Pakistani injustice and oppression in Azad
Kashmir and in Gilgit Baltistan. This is why Pakistan and their agents are against
us, but they all failed. We have shown the world ugly face of Pakistan’. 4
Arif Shahid also exposed Amanullah Khan and his
politics. According to Arif Shahid, Amanullah Khan felt more comfortable with
pro Pakistan parties; and he did not tolerate any opposition to his policies
within his party. Even on important issues, he did not like to consult his
senior leaders, for example, when he:
‘Decided to form unity with Yasin Malik, he did not
even consult his JKLF group’s Chairman. Up till that time he used to say Yasin
Malik was a double agent of India and Pakistan; and that he was killer of
Shabir Sadeeqi and his colleagues -martyrs of Hazrat Bal... Amanullah Khan did
not like APNA just because his big brother – Islamabad did not like APNA.
Alliance could only be run by people with tolerance and vision. Those who are
intolerant cannot run any alliance. Amanullah Khan likes a solo flight...He has
a track record of expelling his close colleagues from the JKLF....Amanullah
Niazi discovered Amanullah Gilgiti and he transformed to Amanullah khan and
there is history behind this. If it was not for his personal interests, then he
should have cared for his own people in Gilgit Baltistan where people were
suffering and had no leadership’ 5
Referring to the position of India and Pakistan,
Arif Shahid said:
‘Before we get azadi – independence from India we
must get our demands accepted from Pakistan. India entered Kashmir as a result
of a treaty; whereas Pakistan entered Kashmir as an aggressor. An aggressor is
not liable to any rules. Maharaja’s accession to India is conditional. What is
the legal status of Pakistan in Azad Kashmir and in Gilgit Baltistan’? 6
While paying tribute to Arif Shahid, Cynthia Poyton
said:
‘In his long struggle he bravely challenged the
Pakistani policy in Jammu and Kashmir. He opposed militancy and so called
jihad. In his view, this proxy war
sponsored by the Pakistani establishment, have resulted in destruction and
human loss. People of Jammu and Kashmir have lost a generation because of this
sponsored militancy. I agree with Arif Shahid that gun has no role in the
Kashmiri struggle. The borrowed gun has introduced culture of violence and
intimidation in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and resulted in killing of
thousands of innocent people’. 7
Arif Shahid is no longer with us, but his vision
and clarity of thought is with us. He became a symbol of resistance against the
Pakistani occupation in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Many Azad Kashmiri
nationalists believe that his struggle for the oppressed and victimised people
of the State of Jammu and Kashmir must continue; and that we must oppose those
who promote extremism, violence and religious intolerance. We must expose
Pakistani government’s hypocritical stand on the Kashmir dispute and tell
people that they have imperialist designs on Jammu and Kashmir.
Arif Shahid’s killers are still not arrested.
Pakistani government and law enforcing agencies did not show any interest in
this gruesome killing. Kashmiri nationalists demand that the Pakistani
authorities:
· Should constitute a judicial inquiry into the
murder of Arif Shahid Shaheed;
· Arrest and punish all those involved with the
conspiracy and murder of Arif Shahid;
· Immediately stop policy of harassment and
intimidation in Pakistani Administered Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan;
· Allow people of Pakistani Administered Kashmir and
Gilgit Baltistan to enjoy their fundamental human rights.
References
1.
Arif Shahid, ‘Dagh Dagh Ujala’ published by National Institute of
Kashmir Studies, January 2013, page 138
2.
Ibid, pages 139-40
3.
Ibid, page 141
4.
Ibid, pages 141-42
5.
Ibid, pages 145-146
6.
Ibid, page 154
7.
Speech made by Cynthia Poyton during the UN Human Rights Session in
Geneva in September 2013
Writer
is a political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is
Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs
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