Pakistan’s misfortune
By Pervez Hoodbhoy

RECEP Erdogan, president of Turkey, says his faith in Islam stops him from raising bank interest rates. His hard-line position sent the lira tumbling from one low to another; in the past three months it has lost half its value. In spite of a partial recovery, Turks are still saddled with an inflation rate so high that supermarket employees are barely able to keep up with changing labels. But Erdogan has not budged: “As a Muslim, I will continue doing what our religion tells us. This is the command.”

Command? Dear Mr President, surely as one who aspires to be a Muslim hero you have read the Quran. Therein stands the clear injunction: “Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest/usury” (2:275). “Forbidden” here does not mean negotiating what is low or middle or high — forbidden means zero, exactly zero. Haram is haram. This is why all early Muslim scholars rejected interest.

Many scholars still do today, particularly Arabs and Pakistanis. In 2014, the top ulema of Pakistan belonging to the Fiqhi Majlis said that even the so-called Sharia-compliant Islamic banking merely renames interest as profit and, as such, is deception. All banking, they concluded, is haram. Historically, banking was absent in Muslim countries until the 18th century because nothing except zero interest can be allowed.

The Ottoman rulers of Turkey were, however, not ideologues. As pragmatists who ran an empire, they broke the ban on banking because they well knew that no banking meant no trading. This Western innovation had to be adopted come what may. But, to be safe, they first looked around for muftis who could justify European banking — and found some. One can endlessly debate whether these justifications are genuine or manufactured.

But in Erdogan’s Turkey, state and religion have been joined together; ideology has trumped pragmatism. Still, puzzles remain: how come an interest rate of six per cent is somehow un-Islamic but a 4pc rate is okay? What about 5pc? Erdogan is untroubled by such questions because he is an Ertugrul-like figure in his own imagination, convinced of his absolute wisdom. He recently lashed out at Turkish businessmen who are unimpressed by his faith-driven economic policies. After chairing a cabinet meeting on the falling lira, he accused them of “scheming to topple the government” and said their hopes would be in vain.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing a joint press conference on 14th February, 2020.

Erdogan is just one example where ideology — whether religious or secular — gives the driving seat to emotion and the back seat to reason. Turkey is in trouble, but the United States is in still deeper waters. Even in the post-Trump era many elected officials — both in the Senate and Congress — are ideologically charged, radical, right-wing crackpots who deny climate change and conflate gun-control with a communist takeover. Some lawmakers tacitly or openly supported the Capitol’s takeover by a mob. Will dysfunctional America get back on the rails? The world is watching.

Pakistan’s misfortune is to have the soul brother of Erdogan in power today. Forget the falling rupee — it will surely make some small recoveries soon and, for a while, everyone will be satisfied again. Much more serious is that our schools are producing hordes of ignorant, bigoted, hyper-religious Sialkot-type lynchers who are totally skill-deficient. This will get far worse when the ideologically motivated Single National Curriculum (SNC), the brainchild of PM Imran Khan — becomes fully operational.

The SNC conjoins regular schools with madressahs. Across the country, regular schools are being dragged down and turned into seminaries. The pre-SNC situation was bad enough with abysmally low achievement levels in reading, writing and reasoning. SNC, by making the rote-learning system still stronger, will deal the death blow. On the one hand children will memorise vastly greater amounts of religious materials. On the other hand, only a single official textbook is specified for each subject. A student memorising selected parts of that book can get full marks.

On a global level, Pakistani children presently stand at the bottom of achievement levels. Inferior to their counterparts in Iran, India and Bangladesh, they are almost always absent from competitions like the international science and mathematics Olympiads. When they do compete, they perform poorly. The solitary exception is invariably an O-A level or IB student linked to a foreign examination system.

This under-achievement kills the possibility of Pakistan doing well in science and technology even into the 22nd century. Lacking scientists, engineers, and technicians of quality, Pakistan has reached a dead end. CPEC’s billions failed to ignite industrial, engineering, scientific, or business activity. The country has no space programme, no biotech labs turning out new products, and no significant indigenous hi-tech industry in any domain. Last year, Pakistan’s software exports — a measure of brain power — stood at barely $2 billion (India’s were $148bn).

On the academic front, Pakistani professors churn out thousands of so-called research papers every year but these are mostly worthless. Today, the Pakistan Academy of Science is stuffed with persons having fake credentials; its office-bearers have the highest national honours but they stand exposed by international organisations as cheaters and plagiarists. The continuing revelations of one such organisation, Retraction Watch, are like water off a duck’s back. None in the PAS so much as bat an eyelid at the exposés — fraud and bluster has become a way of life.

These grim problems can be overcome if there is a desire to be ruthlessly honest. But when aggressive self-righteous zealots grab the reins of power, the chances decrease. Such dogmatists make reform impossible by asserting that they — and they alone — know the truth. Their moral absolutes lead to strong emotions, diminished reasoning capacity and dysfunction in governance.

Buoyed up by Pakistan’s victory in Afghanistan, on many occasions PM Khan — who greatly admires Erdogan — has gleefully lauded the Taliban as a liberating force. He has lauded the Pakistani madrassahs that produced the Taliban and showered funds upon them. Now he wants our regular schools to emulate Taliban-style education — hence SNC. By official notification dated Dec 21, co-education in Punjab’s schools will be phased out. In fulfilling PM Khan’s ideological fantasies, Pakistan will pay a terrible price.

(The writer is an Islamabad-based physicist and writer.)

Gwadar is boiling, is the CPEC the reason? Dr Shabir Choudhry. 26 December 2021

Gwadar is boiling, is the CPEC the reason?

Dr Shabir Choudhry. 26 December 2021

Gwadar has witnessed unprecedent protests. Many analysts claim that these protests are because of the serious problems created by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. China, who has invested billions of dollars in the CPEC, are worried about this political and social unrest.

However, some people are worried because the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has publicly stated that he will pay attention to this matter and resolve problems of the people. In the past whenever he said he would take notice of a matter of public concern, he made a mess of it and added to their problems.

The massive protests in Gwadar which unnerved Islamabad and Beijing were led by Jamat e Islami. It was a kind of victory for the protestors because after 28 days of large protests, Imran Khan’s government, despite strict media control, woke up and decided to listen to demands of tens of thousands of men and women protestors.

Threat of extremism in Gwadar and Balochistan

Whereas it is pleasing to note that the local people of Gwadar may get some benefits or some rights as a result of this four weeks long protest, however, it must also be noted that it is also a victory for Jamat e Islami and its leadership. This ‘victory’ for Jamat e Islami is in a way a victory for the religious and extremist politics, which will surely provide impetus to religious and extremist groups in Pakistan, and especially in Gwadar and Balochistan.

It is difficult not to see a clear right-wing manifestation in the protest, especially when young local women with full ‘hijabi attire’, with only eyes visible, were illustrating strong religious ingredients in the struggle under the banner of Jamat e Islami.

This Protest or sit in of tens of thousands of local people was against ‘illegal trawling, a growing drugs trade and the lack of basic facilities like health and education’. Famous slogans were “Give Gwadar its Rights” and “Haq Ya Shahdat”, meaning rights or Martyrdom.

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This peaceful movement received a big boost when tens of thousands of women and children joined the protest. The protesting men, women, old and young called off their month-long sit-in after many rounds of talks. The pact was signed by Abdul Qudus Bizenjo, Chief Minister of Balochistan and Provincial General Secretary of Jamaat Islami (JI), Maulana Hidayat-ur- Rehman, who was previously added to the Fourth Schedule.

Although Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman is a local Baloch, his association with the Jamat e Islami, and his status, General Secretary of the religious party in Gwadar, raises many questions and casts doubts on this movement and its ultimate goals.

The history of Jamat e Islami is not that great, because the Pakistani establishment has used the Party many times to advance its agenda at home and abroad. Sadly, the Party leaders don’t express any remorse on what they have done to advance the agenda of the army establishment, rather they take pride that they have served the army to propagandise their domestic and foreign agenda.

In view of the thinking people of Pakistan, especially the liberals who believe that the Jamat e Islami cannot be trusted, as they could be, once again, advancing the agenda of the establishment.

By winning this ‘victory’, and by taking the centre stage in this movement, the Jamat e Islami and their local leaders have established their credentials, as pro people. They have also demonstrated their courage and ability to challenge the might of the State and secret agencies.

Fear is that they can use newly acquired status, and power to promote extremism, and their brand of Islam. This will surely result in sectarian politics which will ultimately divide the people of Balochistan and Gwadar.

There are reports which suggest that Balochistan can be a fertile ground for religious and sectarian politics. The religious or sectarian politics could be used by the Pakistani army and secret agencies to further divide and destroy the Baloch struggle.

Faiz M. Baluch, editor of Balochwarna News, told ‘The Week’, that in Balochistan the “Pakistan army first used military power. Then it used

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disappearances and killings, and now it is the systematic use of religious parties and groups to create religious and sectarian strife and gain power.” 1

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It is in the interest of China and Pakistan to crush and subjugate the Baloch people; and both countries (China and Pakistan) work as a team to discredit and harm the Balochi struggle, and use of religion could be just another strategy.

The Iranian government is also not happy with the Pakistani army using the religious card to advance and protect their internal and external interests. The Indian government is also immensely concerned about use of religion in Balochistan and in other parts of Pakistan, as that can have serious ramifications for India, where religious strife is damaging social fabrics of the society, not to mention religiously motivated violence and terrorism. The Pakistani establishment has a great experience in nurturing Islamist groups and use them as proxies to advance their agenda. There is no reason why they should not do what they have been doing since 1947. It is only logical that they divide the people of Balochistan on political, tribal, regional and religious lines and establish their rule forcefully. It must be highlighted that Balochistan is very important to both Pakistan

and China because of its strategic position, natural resources and the CPEC which ends in Gwadar, and provides China access to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is natural that both will collude and do everything possible to control this region.

It must be pointed out that Gwadar is in Pakistan’s impoverished province of Balochistan, which is a sparsely populated, mountainous, desert region bordering Afghanistan and Iran. China has been involved in the development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea as part of a $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure project.

Despite the lofty claims of Pakistan, the local residents of Gwadar have long complained that Chinese presence and investment in the area has done very little, if any, to improve their lives, particularly with regards to water scarcity and jobs. Reality is that they face more problems since the inauguration of the CPEC, as they encounter more restriction and fewer rights; and to make matters worse, the Chinese projects have:

‘Robbed them of their primary source of livelihood, fishing, as giant fishing trawlers have come in through the Arabian Sea, resulting in the closure of a majority of fish processing factories.’

The fishermen were protesting against granting fishing rights to trawlers of China and ‘Sindh within the limits of the sea touching Gwadar city’. It must be pointed out that the local people strongly feel that they are deprived of their livelihoods as more than two million people are directly linked with the fishing business in Gwadar.

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The residents of the city also demanded access to clean water, power supply, and a right of movement by removing check-posts which restrict movement of the local people, and create enormous problems for the local people, as they cannot freely move around in their own hometown.

Pakistani narrative

The Pakistani government narrative is that the protesters were not against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, or against the presence of the Chinese and Pakistani settlers in Gwadar.

This discourse is part of Pakistani propaganda and is designed to obscure facts. This point will be discussed later on.

Anyhow, under some pressure, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, in his tweet said he had taken notice of the very legitimate demands of the hardworking fishermen of Gwadar. “Will be taking strong action against illegal fishing by trawlers & (and) will also speak to CM Balochistan.” In response to this, the Chief Minister of Balochistan,Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, emphasised that the demands of Gwadar movement were based on human rights, and were part of the incumbent government’s policies. However, he stressed that it was not the responsibility of the Provincial government to provide power supply, as it was the ‘domain of the

federal government, and PM Imran Khan had promised to accept all legitimate demands.’

He further said,

“The provincial government is implementing actions on the demands of the protestors coming under its constitutional realm.”

Enumerating his success, Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, proudly said:

• Licenses of all liquor stores had been suspended.
• The concerned departments had been directed to resolve the water issues in Gwadar.
• And funds had been issued to the relevant departments.

The Chief Minister further said the provincial government is willing to work with the Federal Government to formulate a joint mechanism to act against illegal trawling. "We will soon present a detailed report to PM Imran Khan on the developments," he mentioned.

He assured the people that his government will ensue:
1. The prohibition of illegal fish trawling,
2. Ending unnecessary Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) check posts,
3. Resumption of border trade,
4. Andendingthetokensysteminlightoftheprotestor'sdemands.

Analyses of the statement.

As far as the statement is concerned it is encouraging. However, practically not much will happen. The Provincial government will not do anything as their hands are tied with various agreements with China, Federal Government and the Pakistani establishment.

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The Chief Minister was very careful with the selection of his words. In point one, he said, ‘prohibition of illegal fish trawling’. Since the Chinese trawlers which fish in the sea near Gwadar do so with permission and understanding of the Pakistani government and under the Chinese pressure, how they will stop them. The Chinese trawlers take away tonnes of fish daily, practically depriving the local fisherman to catch any fish for their families.

These stringent measures and lack of fundamental rights, and their inability to earn sufficient for their families may ultimately force many local people to migrate to other regions where they can live in peace.

Critics may argue that there are no districts within restive Balochistan, where the Baloch people can live in peace, and earn sufficient money to feed their families. In other words, options for the local Baloch people are very limited.

In point two the Chief Minister said, ‘ending unnecessary Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) check posts.’ Who will decide if the check posts and Frontier Crimes Regulations are unnecessary? Surely not the suffering local people. This decision will be made by the secret agencies of Pakistan, Chinese agencies, and the Pakistani administration in Gwadar.

Do I need to point out that in view of the Pakistani and the Chinese secret agencies, and the local Pakistani administration, more stringent measures need to be adopted to keep the local people out and to safeguard the Chinese and the Pakistanis who have settled here at the expense of the local people?

Similarly, in point three and four, the local people will have no say in decision making. The Pakistani administration established here to rule, and the Chinese experts settled here will call the shots, and the local people are only there to suffer and hold protests.

If the local people make too much noise or instigate some kind of resistance or disobedience, they could also face serious trouble. They can be abducted and imprisoned, or in the worst-case scenario, killed in a fake encounter. Their name will be added to the growing list of the missing persons; and their loved ones will spend the rest of their lives protesting, and trying to find out where their husband, son, brother or other relatives have gone.

A Baloch narrative.

Baloch leaders fighting the Pakistani state and their oppression and looting in Balochistan, including Gwadar are not prepared to trust the Pakistani establishment, as they have been ‘betrayed’ by the Pakistani state many times.

While speaking to me, a Baloch political and human rights activist, Munir Mengal said:

‘People who are peacefully protesting in Gwadar want access to clean drinking water. They want a right to life. They have lived in this area for centuries, and their livelihood is fishing. With the help of China, they are deprived to fish and survive. Very soon they will have only one option, migrate from this area and leave this town for the Chinese and Punjabi settlers.’ 2

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Baloch nationalists believe that Balochistan was occupied by Pakistan by violating an agreement. Munir Mengal, President of Baloch Voice Association, said:

‘Pakistani establishment is systematically killing Baloch nationalists, which can be called slow motion genocide of the Baloch people. All those who strive for fundamental rights and seek justice are kidnapped and they become missing persons. Sadly, the list of the missing people is getting longer and longer, and authorities have no concern for the suffering families.’ 3

Holland based Think Tank, European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) in its newsletter published on 24 December 2021, pointed out that ‘the main demands of the of the Movement included ban on illegal trawling the Arabian Sea, including massive Chinese fishing operations there which the protesters said had rendered the local fishermen and others jobless, access to the coastal areas near the Gwadar seaport, and reopening of the Iranian border, which is a major commercial and trading centre for the local population.’ 4

Position of Courts

Issue of the ‘missing persons’ is a very serious one. In the past, even the Supreme court Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhry could not enforce writ of the state or impose the Pakistani laws. The secret agencies were called to the Court, but they did not present the missing persons.

The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice, Athar Min Allah, a very reputable and honest Judge, has now taken up the issue of the ‘missing persons’. The Islamabad High Court directed the Additional Attorney General to take up the missing persons’ cases with the federal cabinet and inform the court about the government’s policy in this regard.

A reputable Pakistani English daily newspaper, ‘Dawn’ stated that the Court has categorically asserted that the issue of the missing person is a test case for the state, which should clarify its position in this matter. The case under consideration relates to missing journalist Mudassar Naaru.

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The court also emphasised the ‘inability or unwillingness of the Commission for Inquiry of Enforced Disappearances (CIED) with regard to doing something concrete about this problem. According to the court, there are thousands of families whose loved ones have gone missing, but no one bothers.’ 5

Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing the petition ‘seeking safe recovery of ‘missing’ journalist Mudassir Mehmood Naaru, observed enforced disappearances gave the impression that the state was behind such a heinous crime.’ 6

During the hearing, the Chief Justice, made a reference to the ‘abduction of Assistant Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Sajid Gondal, remarked that a young man had illegally been taken into custody and was forced to give the statement that he had gone “to the Northern Areas on his own.” 7

According to Daily Dawn, counsel for the family of the missing journalist, Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari, contemplated why ‘officials of the spy agency should not be held responsible for the enforced disappearance of any citizen from their respective jurisdiction’.

Conclusion

The CPEC, as I have claimed time and again, in my books on the CPEC and in my speeches that this over ambitious mega project will prove to be disastrous for Pakistan, because the Pakistani economy does not have the capacity; and the Pakistani people do not have ability or even desire to make this work.

Not many people believed in what I and many other wise Pakistanis said and predicted. All those who criticised the CPEC or opposed it were castigated as anti - Pakistan and Indian agents.

However, in 2019, I was contacted by a Pakistani diplomat to discuss some contents of my books on the CPEC. He said what you wrote in 2016, proved to be correct and he wanted to know about my sources.

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Of course, I was not a fool to disclose my sources, however, we had a lengthy discussion in which I asserted that the new government would exacerbate the economy of Pakistan and Pakistan may never taste the fruit of the CPEC. Also, I said, Pakistan will not be able to pay interest on its borrowing, and will end up handing over some strategic assets to China.

The Pakistani establishment installed a wrong man for the job. A stubborn man with tunnel vision, and ego higher than K2 Mountain, and who was a fast bowler and infamous for playboy lifestyle, with no experience in public life or public administration was appointed as a Chief Executive of a nuclear country with a population of 220 million.

Managing 10 players in a cricket match was one thing and managing affairs of a country like Pakistan was a totally different ball game. He started governing Pakistan as if it was a cricket match.

Despite all the help of the establishment, secret agencies, judiciary, allied political parties the man failed in every field of governance. All his lofty claims and hopes of his followers were shattered. He failed to acknowledge his blunders or see the writing on the wall. He thought that because he is smart, a cricket star, and tells lies with confidence; and he has a big team of IT experts who will continue to disseminate fake news, he will be able to weather the political storm and have his way.

We all know how Imran Khan has messed up the economy and political system of Pakistan, and the future looks very bleak. Pakistan’s per capita GDP has reduced from $1482 US Dollars to $1194. What has happened in Gwadar in November and December is only a start.

Pakistan will not be able to honour promises made to the protesters, which will result in more protests leading to extremism and violence. My fear is that the Jamat e Islami Chief in Gwadar may create a situation in which there could be a direct clash with the authorities, which will provide authorities an opportunity to round up ring leaders and crush the movement.

Call it militancy or insurgency in Balochistan, it is contained to a large extent by the Pakistan army, as they have great experience in dealing with these matters. However, the real danger is that the Movement or struggle in Gwadar and Balochistan may be divided on religious and sectarian lines. If

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this happens then it will give a new dimension to the struggle in Balochistan.

If matters are not resolved peacefully and to the satisfaction of the local people of Gwadar and Balochistan, then there is danger of more unrest, instability, and violence in the region. The CPEC and the Chinese and ‘Punjabi’ settlements will always be disliked, opposed, and would be perceived as a ‘legitimate’ target for the militants.

If the authorities decided to only rely on their military might, and gave no importance to dialogue and consultation then there is a serious threat that it can escalate and may lead to some foreign intervention with disastrous consequences.

Reference:

1. https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/12/18/as-large-scale- protests-break-out-in-pakistan-gwadar-over-cpec-how-should- india-react.html

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQMYxbb4U-Y

3. Ibid

4. https://www.aninews.in/news/world/europe/china-concerned-about- escalating-protests-in-gwadar20211225031830/

5. https://thenation.org.uk/2021/12/23/ihc-concerned- overmissing-persons-askgovt-to-explain-policy/

6. Ibid

7. Ibid

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Delimitation, how it will affect politics of Jammu and Kashmir? Dr Shabir Choudhry, 24 December 2021

 

Delimitation, how it will affect politics of Jammu and Kashmir?     Dr Shabir Choudhry, 24 December 2021

 

The people of Jammu and Kashmir lost unity and integrity of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, when Pakistan attacked the State with intention to occupy it.

 

Apart from Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan occupied some area which is now called Azad Kashmir, meaning an independent Kashmir, although it has no independence apart from the prefix of azad.

 

The other parts of the State remained as one political entity under the control of India. Despite the UN Resolutions demanding Pakistan to vacate the occupied territory so that the future status could be determined, Pakistan did not vacate, and we remain forcibly divided since 1947.

 

Despite special status within the Indian Union, Jammu and Kashmir under India gradually lost its autonomy. In August 2019, India abrogated the Articles 370 and 35 A of the Indian constitution, and separated Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir. However, both regions were given the status of Union territory.

 

This action of India ended the Statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. There were many protests against this unwise and unwarranted decision, but that did not change anything.

 

It must be pointed out that for several years, there was a demand from Ladakh that their region should be separated from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

All the signs are there that New Delhi wants to grant statehood back to Jammu and Kashmir, and, as I predicted in 2019, the new status of statehood will be minus Ladakh.

 

Some contacts of mine confided that after the delimitation there will be new elections of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which will reflect new realities of the region.

 

From this, I infer that ‘new realities’ will mean a new power structure, where ‘dominance’ of the Kashmir Valley may be neutralised. There are

 

Delimitation itself is a normal procedure to reflect new changes since the last delimitation. However, sometimes this mechanism is used to gain political gains; and this is a cause of concern for some communities and politicians.

 

Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir questioned the motives of the Delimitation Commission, and urged them to clarify the criteria for increasing seats for the Jammu Province. While speaking to a big public gathering at Gool in Ramban district on 24 December 2021, he said:

 

‘Population and area of the constituency is always considered as the main parameters for creating a new Assembly segment. But here in J&K we are unable to understand which criteria has been adopted while increasing seven Assembly seats by the Commission in J&K’. 1

 

The Limitation Commission proposed to increase six seats in Jammu and one in Kashmir; and this proposal, in his opinion, is ‘facing strong opposition from several parties and groups’.

 

However, Ghulam Nabi Azad, agreed with the suggestion of increasing seats in Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Udhampur, as in his view, these are big districts. He questioned the rationale of increasing a seat for a small district like Samba, which already has two constituencies.

 

On the issue of abrogating the statehood, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said, the Jammu and Kashmir:

 

‘Has been pushed about two decades back by the August 5, 2019 decision, when the erstwhile state was disbanded and its special status abrogated. The Government of Delhi wants to continue with the proxy rule in J&K and seems to be least interested in elections. But the Congress Party would continue to exert pressure on the Union Govt to hold assembly elections after winters. 2

 

He also complained about the deteriorating conditions of roads and health facilities, especially in remote hilly areas. He said people feel they are being neglected by the current administration.

 

Apni Party also rejected the Delimitation Commission’s Report. The Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari in a press conference held on 24 December 2021, said, the Party leadership feels that the Delimitation proposal ‘deviates from the procedures as mandated by the constitution of India’. He further said:

“Apni Party has a clear stand on this report that defeats the very idea of a secular India. Both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir have always complimented each other while such arbitrary edicts are aimed to disturb the harmony in J&K. However, Apni Party will never allow these schemes to succeed.” 3

Many political activists of the Valley feel that the Delimitation Commission wants to upset the existing political structure by disproportionately giving more Assembly seats to Jammu province. Ladakh was separated from the rest of Jammu and Kashmir and made a Union Territory in August 2019, hence seats of this region will not have any representation in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Six more seats for Jammu means more power for the Jammu province, hence the resentment and anger in some quarters of the political system in Jammu and Kashmir.

It must be noted that Ghulam Nabi Azad is a Congress leader and belongs to the Jammu Province, and he only had an objection on one extra seat of Samba district. 

 

Reference:

1.      https://periscopetimes.com/delimitation-commission-should-clear-criteria-for-increasing-seats-ghulam-nabi-azad/https:/

2.     Ibid

3.     https://periscopetimes.com/apni-party-rejects-delimitation-commission-report-terms-proposal-disproportionate/