06/01/2011 - 07/01/2011 - Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front

Monday, 27 June 2011

Protest in London against Fraud Election in Pakistan Administered Kashmir

‎JKLF Protest in London against Fraud Election in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The protest took place in front of Pakistani High Commission, London. Kashmiri people from other many towns including Luton, Sheffield, Slough, Bedford, and Nottingham also attended. A petition was also handed over to the officials of Pakistan High Commission condemning the involvement of Pakistani political parties in the disputed region and Act 1974. Below is the memorandum

His Excellency Wajid Shams-ul- Hassan
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK
Lowndes Square, London

Date: 26 June 2011

Dear Excellency

Re: The Assembly Elections in Azad Jammu Kashmir-AJK- today and the
Azad Jammu Kashmir Interim Constitution Act 1974.

As your Excellency is are aware, elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly are taking place today in which the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF- decided not to participate.

Notwithstanding the excitement generated during the election campaign by the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, and Mian Nawaz Sharif the leader of the opposition, the JKLF considers these elections under the 1974 Interim constitution Act as unrepresentative, as it imposes unjust and undemocratic conditions and restrictions on the question of state’s accession.

Excellency our party has, during the past month mounted a vigorous political campaign in both AJK and elsewhere, to mobilise public opinion and create awareness about the undemocratic governance in AJK due to the imposition of the 1974 Interim Constitution. On AJK by

Pakistan

As in London today, the JKLF is holding rallies and vigils across AJK and in other parts of the world to express Kashmiris’ rejection of the 1974 Act, and the undemocratic and unrepresentative structures of governance that have developed under this constitution.

AJK- assembly elections- purport to be a democratic expression of not only over 3 million residents of the territory, but also elect members for constituencies that since 1947 remain within the Indian occupied part of the state... The AJK assembly also styles itself as the successor of the pre August 1947 government of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The 1974 Act requires candidates wishing to contest elections for the AJK assembly to swear an oath of allegiance to the “cause of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to

Pakistan

”, (S) 21 (6) and (S) 23 (1). This requirement of the 1974 Act is a clear contradiction and contravention of the basic political, inherent and inalienable right of the people of AJK, and of the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir for an unfettered choice to have a democratic and representative government.

Therefore continued application and exercise of the 1974 Act hardly reflects any democratic credibility and representativeness in the governance of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Excellency during the past almost sixty four years, it is for the unfettered choice that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have struggled in order to achieve the right for a free and democratic vote! It is indeed this very principle upon which the inherent and inalienable right of around 20 million people of Jammu Kashmir is predicated towards their just struggle for self determination.

Thus Kashmiris since 1947 have seized upon every available opportunity to resist political status quo in their country, and have campaigned for reunification and a sovereign right to decide on the political and constitutional status for their homeland as a just and equitable solution of the Kashmir issue. Incidentally Kashmiris of all political persuasions do not consider the future of their homeland as a dispute between India and Pakistan but rather as an issue which is linked with their inherent and inalienable rights and aspirations.

As you are aware the Kashmir state comprises of a number of regions, which at presently include the Indian occupied part of Kashmir, the AJK region and Gilgit Baltistan, which was unilaterally declared as a province of Pakistan by the current Pakistani government since it came to power in 2008.

In the Indian occupied part of Kashmir, the assembly elections take place within the Indian constitution. This clearly disenfranchises the people who do not recognise Kashmir as part of India, hence the popular movement for self determination since 1988; which is being violently suppressed by Indian forces of occupation resulting in the deaths of around one hundred thousand people.

While the struggle for reunification and self determination in relation to the entire forcibly divided state of Kashmir continues, we demand that the undemocratic 1974 Interim Act imposed on people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is rescinded and replaced with a transparent and democratic constitution that fully accommodates and recognises the basic political and human rights of all shades of political and ideological opinions, including the enfranchisement of political forces that advocate the cause of an independent and sovereign status for a reunified state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Republic of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was established on 4 October 1947 and reconstituted on 22 October 1947 as the successor Government representing the entire state. If such a government is to have legitimacy of representing not just those within the physical boundaries of AJK, but across the Line of Control-LoC, it is only reasonable to expect that it is fully democratic and sovereign.

That not only the Legislative assembly is elected under a democratic constitution, but also the undemocratic and colonial edifice of the Kashmir Council is constituted in accordance with processes consistent with the principles and practices exercised by a sovereign people.

Otherwise your Excellency, the election process in AJK, taking place today, will once again prove to be a sham election, and a futile effort in the name of democracy. Such a sham process will not only continue to disenfranchise and alienate the people, but will also be a betrayal of the immense sacrifices that they and their forefathers have rendered to the cause of freedom and justice in Kashmir.

We urge your Excellency therefore to convey our views contained in this communication to the Government of Pakistan that it encourages and allows the people in AJK to formulate their own constitution so that a representative system of governance which is fully compatible with internationally recognised democratic norms and principles is established without delay and duress.

With expectation,
Cllr Mahmood Hussain (President, JKLF UK Zone)
Syed Tehseen Gilani (General Secretary, JKLF UK Zone)
________________________________________
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)
Email               jklfukzone@jklfworld.org
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Address:          18 Carlton Road, Luton, LU3 1ER

Monday, 20 June 2011

JKLF to protest in front of Pakistan High Commission, London on 26th July 2011

JKLF to protest in front of Pakistan High Commission, London on 26th July 2011 against the fraud elections in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. The 1974 Act requires a candidate wishing to contest elections for the AJK assembly to swear an oath of allegiance to the “cause of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan”, (S) 21 (6) and (S) 23 (1) - The 1974 Act.

This requirement of the 1974 Interim AJK Act is a clear contradiction and contravention of the basic political, inherent and inalienable right of the people ofKashmir for an unfettered choice to have a democratic and representative government.

Friday, 17 June 2011

Undemocratic and Unrepresentative Elections in Pakistan Administered Kashmir

A brief background:

For almost sixty four years people of the forcibly divided state of Jammu and Kashmir, commonly referred to as Kashmir), have struggled to obtain their fundamental right for a free and democratic vote!

Kashmiris since 1947 have seized upon every available opportunity to resist the status quo, and they have campaigned for reunification and a sovereign status for their homeland which remains forcibly divided between India and Pakistan.

Kashmir state comprises of a number of regions; however at present it comprises of three regions – namely the Indian occupied part of Kashmir, the AJK region controlled by Pakistan and the region of Gilgit Baltistan, unilaterally declared as a province of Pakistan by the current Pakistani government since it came to power in 2008.

In Indian occupied part of the state the assembly elections take place within the Indian constitution. This process disenfranchises those political opinion which does not recognise Kashmir as part of India, hence the popular movement for self determination since 1988, which is being violently suppressed by Indian forces resulting in the deaths of around one hundred thousand Kashmiri civilians.

In Gilgit Baltistan region, recently declared as a province of Pakistan, only the Pakistani political parties are allowed to contest the assembly election, while the governor is appointed by Islamabad as representative of the Pakistani state.

Assembly Elections in Azad Jammu Kashmir-AJK 2011

Azad Jammu Kashmir-AJK- assembly elections- which purport to be a democratic expression of not only 3 million residents of AJK , but also elect members for constituencies that since 1947 are within the Indian occupied part of the state- take place under the 1974 Act.

The 1974 Act or The Azad Jammu Kashmir Interim Constitution Act 1974 was given to AJK by the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1974.

The 1974 Act requires a candidate wishing to contest elections for the AJK assembly to swear an oath of allegiance to the “cause of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan”, (S) 21 (6) and (S) 23 (1) - The 1974 Act.

While the struggle for reunification and self determination in relation to the entire forcibly divided state of Kashmir continues, we demand that the undemocratic 1974 Interim Act imposed on people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is rescinded and replaced with a transparent and democratic constitution that fully accommodates, along with the cause of accession of Kashmir to either Pakistan or India, to enfranchisement of political forces that advocate the cause of an independent and sovereign status for a reunified state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Otherwise the elections process in AJK, schedule to take place on 26 June 2011 will once again be sham election process and mere futile effort in the name of democracy and the people of the region. Such a sham process will not only further disenfranchise and alienate the people but will also be a sad betrayal of the immense sacrifices that they and their forefathers have rendered to the cause of freedom and justice in Kashmir and in particular the development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

We therefore seek your support for the democratic rights of all Kashmir people, and in the interim a representative system of governance for the people of AJK- which is fully compatible with internationally recognised democratic norms and principles.

NOTE: This brief note of AJK elections is circulated to Parliamentarians, the press and media, diplomats, political and human rights activists today on 15th June 2011 during a press conference held at the Whittle Room, Broadway House, London.

For further details and clarifications please contact:

Prof. Zafar Khan (Head, JKLF Diplomatic Committee)

Cllr Mahmood Hussain (President, JKLF UK Zone)

Syed Tehseen Gilani (General Secretary, JKLF UK Zone)

________________________________________

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)

Email               jklfukzone@jklfworld.org
Web                http://www.jklfworld.org/
Blog                 http://www.jklfworld.blogspot.com/
Facebook        http://www.facebook.com/JKLFWORLD

Independence viable solution to K-issue: Ammanullah

Islamabad, June 16: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, chief patron, Ammanullah Khan has said that in the backdrop of changes sweeping across the globe, the option of independent Kashmir seems more sensible and a viable solution to the long-running dispute of Kashmir issue.

“Gone are the days when JKLF activists were labelled as double agents and we have come a long way as the nationalist movement is gaining strength on both sides of the ceasefire line (LOC)”, the JKLF founder said while talking to Greater Kashmir. “Initially, talking about Independent Kashmir was not even a minor feat”, he said adding that it was very unfortunate that the Government of Indian accused Shaheed Maqbool Bhat as a Pakistani agent and sent him to gallows after keeping him behind the bars for over 10 years. To the contrary, he said Bhat faced same allegations in Pakistan and was jailed for over two years. “His crime was his struggle for his national emancipation and nothing else”, he said. “I, too, faced the same situation here and was put behind the bars for number of times just for raising the voice of independent Kashmir”, he said. Khan maintained that the region had witnessed a sea change and political maturity amongst the Kashmiris had increased manifold over the past two decades. “I think it is our success that the people, who until yesterday were against JKLF’s struggle for an independent Kashmir, now support and subscribe the same ideology”. “Though they have some reservations, but in private meetings they speak their heart out”, he added. Dismayed over the prevailing political situation in Kashmir he said, there was a dire need that all the political forces should come forward and devise a consensus policy on the issue that has to in line with national interest and reflective of the peoples’ aspirations. He said Kashmiri nation had suffered and struggled for years to achieve the cherished goal of freedom.

Tuesday, 7 June 2011