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I understand that all of us
are well aware of the background and foreground of the recent elections
in Pakistan-Administered-Kashmir (PAK), which have heavily suffered from
the outside interference and the massive rigging by the federal
government of Pakistan and its agencies for the obvious reasons. The main
principle of formation of government in PAK has always been that of on
the pleasure of Pakistani establishment and its agencies. Only such
individuals and parties, who could earn the consent of these forces, were
able to come into power, although elections have never been accorded any
importance in this part of Jammu Kashmir. For the first 23 years, right
from 1947 to 1970, there had been no general elections. Individuals
nominated by the establishment and recommended by its agencies were
installed as Presidents. From 1970 onward the elections were held but
only those parties were allowed to come into power, which were blessed by
the establishment and its agencies. No election, especially election on
the seats of Jammu Kashmir refugees settled in Pakistan, could be held
without massive rigging, because power was to be given to those toeing
the line of petty officials of the secret agencies.
Apparently,
it is called democracy and the representative government; but it is a
pure and simple ‘agentocracy’. For how many ministers and advisers, and
who should be those lucky, is the sole privilege of military officers
stationed in and around PAK. People have got nothing to do with all this.
This is what has been the established tradition so far.
Against
this historical background, there is nothing new this time. But what is
the most shameful and deplorable is the fact that we are committing the
same blunders, rather in a worst manner, which we blame India to have
been committing in its part of Jammu Kashmir. Interference and rigging
takes place there, too, perhaps, but it is mostly committed at the local
level and not at the highest level; while here all the irregularities,
interference and manipulations are made at the highest level, for which
the establishment of Pakistan and its agencies are held responsible. Firstly, pre-poll rigging took
place by rejecting the nomination papers of some 80 nationalists who
refused to sign the requirement of Act-1974 (accession of the State of
Jammu Kashmir to Pakistan) imposed on PAK by Pakistan, because
nationalists do not believe in that and they have a right to believe or
not to believe. This is a blatant violation of their political, social
and human right. Besides, some of those individuals who are very much
pro-Pakistan, but sometimes refuse to toe the line of hidden forces, have
also been kept out of the power structure through unfair methods and foul
machinations. In addition to that, 12 seats reserved for Jammu Kashmir
refugees settled in Pakistan, who are also holding the citizenship of
Pakistan, have been massively rigged in favour of a so called political
party, which is in fact a ‘keep’ of the establishment, its institutions
and agencies. The losing candidates must have complete proof of rigging
with the ways and means adopted. After all, what type of country this
Pakistan is which can not hold any elections without rigging; where armed
forces and its secret agencies decide as to the individuals and parties
suitable for installing into power, and the people are made to suffer
silently. But when the govts. are formed, they are called representative
govts. How long this vicious circle is to continue and for how long
people are going to tolerate these hidden forces between themselves and
their real representatives. This is a big question mark before this
country and its survival!
Under
these circumstances, I am constrained to demand that 12 seats (which have
become permanent instrument for blackmailing) reserved for the refugees
of Jammu Kashmir settled in Pakistan (already given citizenship there)
should be abolished forthwith; and only 2 seats, each for Valley of
Kashmir and Jammu, may be retained as symbolic representation, and be
filled like other indirect seats. Moreover, the people of
Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) should also be given symbolic representation in
PAK’s assembly. I also want to repeat my demand that there should be no
more outside interference and imposition in PAK’s affairs; otherwise,
people of this territory shall have to be forced to organize resistance
movement against this open and blatant high handedness.
Before
concluding, I am taking this opportunity to appeal to the democratic
forces of PAK, who are, as a result of the massive rigging, also
aggrieved at the moment, to organize any movement to protest against the
unfair and unjust game and to introduce real democracy in this part of
Jammu Kashmir, Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party (JKNAP) shall be happy
to become part and parcel of such a movement.
The
author is President Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party and spokesman of
Jammu Kashmir All Parties National Alliance (APNA).
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