Kotli, AJK (Pakistan administrated Kashmir): In a landmark political move aimed at uniting the fragmented pro-independence movement, veteran Kashmiri leader Sadaqat Mughal Kashmiri has called for an All-Parties Conference (APC) in Kotli, urging every pro-independence party in Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to join forces for a common cause: national unity.
“Disunity Has Cost Us Decades”: Mughal’s Historic Call for Unity
“Disunity has cost us decades,” Mughal told The Azadi Times late Thursday night. “We have wandered like the nation of Moses in the desert. The desert ends only when we walk together.”
After six years of grassroots outreach and personal appeals to nationalist leaders, Mughal—who returned to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after years of political exile—has issued a final, open invitation to all pro-independence and progressive political parties to join a joint platform for Kashmiri unity.
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A Personal Odyssey for National Unity
Mughal said he personally visited the headquarters of nearly every nationalist and liberation group—from veteran fronts to rising youth-led alliances.
“I never sought a post; I only carried a plea: have mercy on this nation and merge your flags,” he stated.
While multiple short-lived coalitions emerged over the years, Mughal claims his own organisation—the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (Nazreyati)—was never included.
“Everyone knew Sadaqat Mughal stands for unity, yet no one dialed my number,” he said.
The 19 July APC: A Fresh Push from the Ground Up
Refusing to be deterred by past disappointments, Mughal and his party have now called a historic All-Parties Conference (APC) at Poonch House, Kotli, scheduled for 19 July at 11 a.m..
Invitations have been officially sent to:
- All pro-independence parties in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan
- Progressive and left-leaning student organisations
- Diaspora representatives currently present in the territory
Mughal confirmed that he and his team personally delivered invitation letters to senior leaderships.
“I can now look every activist in the eye and say: ‘I knocked on every door—come and see who opens theirs.’”
No Hidden Agenda, Just One Question: Unity
Mughal insists that the Kotli APC has no pre-set leadership agenda, no power-sharing deals, and no secretive discussions.
“The agenda is one line: How do we turn our scattered voices into one roar for freedom and justice?”
He promises the APC will conclude with a joint declaration and a unified action roadmap for continued cooperation.
Direct Appeal to Activists: “Watch Who Comes and Who Stays Away”
In a strong message to grassroots activists and political cadres, Mughal said:
“Your leaders will decide on the 19th, but the real jury is you. Watch closely who comes, who stays outside, and why.”
He emphasized his longstanding commitment to workers’ issues—from social media bans, missing posters, to custodial injustice.
“Neither the nation nor the cadres ever felt my love for the motherland; had they felt it, they would have walked with me.”
Weathering Criticism and Past Failures
Acknowledging skepticism surrounding the APC, critics cite previous alliance failures, ego-driven infighting, and external pressure.
But Mughal insists that this moment is different and urgent:
“Failure this time is not an option; it is extinction.”
He points to rising inflation, shrinking civil liberties, and looming demographic shifts as factors that make this a now-or-never moment for political unity.
A Final Warning—and a Proverb of Hope
Quoting a powerful Kashmiri proverb, Mughal concluded:
“A single stick breaks; a bundle resists the storm. On the 19th we either become that bundle or we remain broken sticks under the boots of indifference.”
Live Coverage and Security Update
According to local sources, the Kotli administration has been officially informed of the upcoming gathering.
Security officials confirm that no restrictions have been imposed so far.
Live updates from the APC will be available on the newspaper’s website and social media under the official hashtag:
#UnityForKashmir
The Azadi Times will publish the joint declaration and complete participant list as soon as the Kotli session concludes tomorrow afternoon.
