The parts of the land known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan, currently under the illegal occupation of Pakistan, are historically the parts of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which at the time of the partition was governed by Maharaja Hari Singh. Known to history is the undeniable fact that Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir made his state’s accession with the Indian Union.
AJK, Gilgit Baltistan, and Shaksgham and Raksham are the inherent parts of Indian dominion. Very straightforward and plain is the argument that the part of Jammu and Kashmir which Pakistan calls Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and northern areas are an integral part of the Jammu and Kashmir whose accession was made with the Indian dominion by its Maharaja at the time of partition. Thus, Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s illegally occupied parts, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan, all are integral parts of the Indian dominion. Shaksgham of Baltistan and Raksham of Gilgit, currently under the control of China, are also parts of India, as these pieces of the lands were parts of the princely state of Jammu And Kashmir before partition. But the territory (so-called AJK & Gilgit Baltistan), unfortunately, has been under Pakistan’s illegal occupation since Pakistan orchestrated a tribal invasion, infamously known as the Kabaa’il raid in 1947/48.
AJK’s Constitutional Deceit. Outwardly, AJK is a sovereign state that enjoys complete constitutional freedom independent of Pakistan’s political influence. The Constitution (as it appears in its structure) is an archetype of sovereignty, with an elected Prime Minister, a council of ministers, and a president giving AJK a republican facade. But, in actuality, AJK’s local constitutional setup is a deception; It is a fraud aiming to pull the wool over people’s eyes.
AJK’s governing body is an automaton subject to the commands and directions of the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Council (AJK Council) sitting officially in Islamabad, headed by Pakistan’s Prime Minister. AJK’s ‘governance’ is thoroughly subservient to the AJK Council. The Council is the sovereign boss in the matters corresponding to finance, judiciary, and administration. AJK’s ‘governance’ can be exemplified as a shoulder used by Pakistan to shoot her political bullets. Neither AJK has a gun nor balls of its own. AJK’s governing body is not independent of making financial policies or reformations. Nor can it make laws on its own.
AJK’s Prime Minister and the President are as good as political undercovers working for Rawalpindi Army Headquarters. At the end of every month, AJK’s Prime Minister and the president are supposed to appear before the army commanders and ISI’s top officials at the Rawalpindi Headquarters to report on their official performances. If anything is found against their taste and temperament, they are rebuked for their ‘incompetence’. In other words, we can put it as the PM and the President of AJK both are spying on their councils and people in general and are supposed to report monthly to their ‘higher officials’ at the Rawalpindi Headquarters. It all is humiliating!
AJK’s disquieted youth, AJK’s youth is dissatisfied with Pakistan’s political role, which they feel is oppressive. Seventy years have lapsed down, but they still feel unidentified. Pakistan’s constitution neither recognizes them as sovereign in status nor does Pakistan confer upon them provincial stature in the country’s national constitution. I’m quoting Mr Waqas Ali’s Research Paper titled ‘The Impact of Conflict on Young People in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) published by the Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms (CPDR), supported by Conciliation Resources, UK, as reference here.
“Young people (of AJK) have serious concerns about Pakistan’s unnecessary domination over the political and administrative setup of AJK, yet simultaneously laud its unflinching support and commitment to the issues of Kashmir…Young people question the uneven and off-centered constitutional relationship between AJK and Pakistan. The AJK interim Constitution Act of 1974 drew criticism—youth strongly believe it excludes the people of AJK from decision-making because the “Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council” acts as a supra-constitutional and paramount authority.
The fact is that the PoK’s people are under oppression. They and their institutions are under despotic surveillance of ISI and Pakistan’s army. Even their print, electronic, and social media are under severe vigilance. If anyone is found opening his mouth against the tyrannous Army or ISI, unknown faces carry him off as he was never born on the earth. Inflicting brutality and barbarism upon those who dare open their lips is the barbaric law there. Hence, justifying the title of the article, “A land where deprival is the fortune of the people!
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