In recent days, there has been a significant development in the political landscape of Jammu Kashmir. On October 17, the newly formed government in Srinagar took a major step forward as five ministers were sworn in and unanimously passed a resolution demanding the restoration of statehood. This is the first serious and substantial move since August 5, 2019. The government in Srinagar, acting on its own, is standing firm like Ibrahim in the face of Nimrod’s fire.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, will soon travel to Delhi to present this resolution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This resolution is a critical first step toward the restoration of autonomy and the removal of restrictions on freedom of expression. By restoring these powers, the government could make significant strides toward implementing the Gupkar Declaration, which aims to restore the political status of Kashmir and protect the rights of its people.
The Test for Muzaffarabad’s Government
In this context, the government of Muzaffarabad faces a critical moment of trial and decision-making. The question arises: Will the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, who leads a cabinet of over two dozen ministers, present a similar resolution calling for Azad Kashmir to be granted the status of a Local Authority under the UN template? And will he be prepared to take this resolution to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chairman of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, in Islamabad? It remains to be seen how committed the leadership in Muzaffarabad is to their cause and whether they are willing to present their case and the challenges they face to non-governmental sectors in Pakistan.
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These questions are crucial, especially since the Chief Minister in Srinagar was elected through the sovereign power of the people’s vote, and due to this popular mandate, he has the full respect of India’s leadership. The oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was attended not only by major political figures in India but also by two significant Kashmiri leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Other prominent officials, including police officers and members of the “Department of Agriculture,” were also present, although they remained within their professional roles. The authority and power, however, rested with the people’s vote.
Muzaffarabad’s Leadership and Political Challenges
On the other hand, according to Tariq Farooq, General Secretary of the Muslim League (N) in Azad Kashmir, the Prime Minister of Muzaffarabad was imposed under the cover of darkness, a symbol of the political weakness that has damaged the political dignity of the region. As a result, Muzaffarabad’s politicians have become more akin to “washers” serving Mughal princes. Our politicians have consistently failed to make a strong case within the Assembly, the media, or outside the state, resorting to empty rhetoric. The same weakness can be observed in other sectors, including the “Department of Agriculture,” where similarly inept individuals have failed to advocate for meaningful change.
For instance, during a recent Assembly session, the Speaker demanded that the UN appoint a Plebiscite Advisor, though he seemed unaware of the difference between a Plebiscite Advisor and a Plebiscite Administrator. While the Speaker may be well-meaning, his lack of understanding reflects a broader failure.
Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, too, made similar blunders during a TV program when he questioned the role of a Plebiscite Advisor, suggesting that such appointments would be meaningless. He failed to mention that this constitutional responsibility has remained unfulfilled since 1970 and that the duties of a Plebiscite Advisor were clearly outlined in an April 1999 decision by the Azad Kashmir High Court, based on a 1992 petition by the Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR).
Moreover, five major politicians from Azad Kashmir also made ill-informed remarks during a national TV program hosted by Ambassador Abdul Basit, further illustrating the region’s political shortcomings.
The Need for Sovereign Leadership in Muzaffarabad
What is urgently needed is for Muzaffarabad to have a Prime Minister who is empowered by the people’s sovereign vote and equipped with a deep understanding of Kashmiri affairs. He must fulfill the responsibilities of the state in the same way that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has in Jammu, where three ministries were allocated to Jammu and the Deputy Chief Minister was appointed from that region. The principle of inclusiveness and its implementation is crucial on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).
As we look ahead, we must ask ourselves: What support and guidance can we offer from Muzaffarabad and beyond to a government elected by the people’s vote across the border? It is important to clarify here that the political, moral, and diplomatic support of the Government of Pakistan and other sectors for the people of Kashmir has been misguided and misdirected for too long.
This support should not be exclusive to Azad Kashmir or any one faction but must be extended to the entire state and to every Kashmiri, whether they are working within the UN template or striving for the collective rights of all Kashmiris.
By Syed Nazir Gilani
