Tribute to a great visionary
leader: speech delivered
on the second death anniversary of Amanullah Khan, legendary leader of the
freedom struggle in Kashmir
Friends and colleagues assalamo-alaikum.
As we
remember our beloved leader and mentor Mr Amanullah Khan on his second
death anniversary, our hearts are filled with sorrow at the loss of a fatherly
figure. To each one of us he is, and he was an important and special
person. We have many memories of Aman sahib, as we always referred to him,
and we will cherish these memories as we would of a very close family member.
I will not
tell you anything that you do not already know about Aman sahib. I am sure that
many of you have read all the three volumes of his book that chronicle his
contribution in the freedom struggle, and indeed about Aman sahib the person
who was the founder the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front-JKLF. I will however
reflect and make my observations on this iconic leader of our freedom struggle
who for me, as I am sure for many others, was not only the leader but a mentor
for almost four decades this year.
Aman sahib's importance goes beyond his party members however, and runs deep
into the lives of Kashmiris across our forcibly divided country. He
struggled all his life for the right of his nation to be free. In the pursuit
of this goal he was steadfast and tenacious to the very last breath. This side
of his persona for the freedom of our country, is quite clearly a hall mark of
a great leader, which he undoubtedly was.
In this regard we must follow Aman sahib's tried and tested approach. His
experiences of facing adversity, and how he would remain firmly wedded to his political
beliefs, and party line, despite the challenges that he faced. Such an approach must
be a guiding light for all of us, especially in the current political and
diplomatic climate within Jammu Kashmir’s neighbourhood and globally.
We must always review our current and future activities based on our abilities
and capacities, rather than our wishes and emotions. We have a much bigger
overall responsibility than we usually realise, and much more pressing
challenges than we usually care to appreciate. We often do and say things
that can take us off our desired and required direction. Therefore we must
remain focused on the overall objective guided by Aman sahib’s approach of
always being able, to find an alternative avenue to remain on course, for the
ultimate goal of azadi.
Aman
sahib lived and died for his nation and his people. His contribution to the
freedom struggle is incomparable. He has left a movement that has made an
indelible mark in the liberation struggle across all sections of society in Jammu
Kashmir, and has awaken the Kashmiris not only on either side of the ceasefire
line in Jammu Kashmir, but within the Diaspora spread right across the world.
Now
that his physical presence is no longer with us, it is incumbent upon each and
every one of us to take the liberation struggle to its logical conclusion. It
is also a test for the will of our party, and the leadership at all levels of
the party structures, to remain focused on the final destination, and the
challenges, both internal and external, that our party- the JKLF- is faced with
in the struggle.
Aman sahib was born in Astore in Gilgit, and at an
early age was taken to the valley of Kashmir for educational and family reasons.
He remained there until 1952 when he crossed over to Pakistan as a young man.
He was already an activist when he arrived in Pakistan, and remained actively
engaged in continuous struggle for freedom of his nation till he breathed his
last on 26 April 2016 in Rawalpindi.
In between he also spent ten years in the United
Kingdom from 1976 to 1986 where he was invited and facilitated by the
expatriates who were engaged in political activism with the Plebiscite Front. A
year later in 1977 he founded the JKLF in which he was supported by these expatriates
from Azad Kashmir.
In 1986 Aman sahib was deported to Pakistan by the UK
government under an administrative order on allegations concerning the
abduction and killing of an Indian diplomat, and also because India considered him
as an enemy. He was tried in a court of law and was exonerated by the Crown
Court of all the charges that were alleged against him by the British
government.
Aman
sahib however was implacably opposed to India’s occupation, and stance on
Kashmir. His activism was indeed a factor that gave the Indian government the
excuse of the diplomat’s killing, to have him removed from the United Kingdom.
India did not like being exposed by him and the JKLF at the international level
as a country, which completely reneged on her commitments given at the UN on
Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Therefore the UK government caved in to intense
pressure from India, which also threatened to shelve a deal to buy British
Westland military helicopters, which in the end however, India purchased from
France instead. Indian threat however, achieved its intended result of having
the great freedom fighter removed from the international arena.
Seven years later in 1993, having been invited to
attend a conference at the European Parliament on Kashmir, Aman sahib was
arrested under an Interpol warrant executed by the Belgium authorities on
India’s behalf. Aman sahib remained incarcerated in Brussels for nearly three
months while a Belgian court addressed the 300 page dossier sent against him by
the Indian government.
I visited
Aman sahib in prison on number of occasions, and also assisted the team of
lawyers which included the renowned Pakistani jurist MS Zafar sahib, in
preparation of his legal defence. Seven years earlier in his 1986 trial, I also
performed similar duties as well as appearing as one of only two witnesses
recommended by Aman sahib to appear for him, the other witness was British
Parliamentarian Mr Terry Davis who supported our cause.
Aman sahib was a selfless and single minded leader
who dedicated, and devoted every second of his life, for the ultimate goal of freedom,
and reunification of his divided country. Even in death this dedication, and
devotion is clearly reflected in his wish to be buried in Gilgit, to symbolise
the unity of Jammu Kashmir he so passionately advocated, and wanted to see
as a free country.
Symbolism
of Gilgit as his final resting place therefore, is important. It is
important because it reveals his wisdom and vision in view of Gilgit
Baltistan’s position since 1947. Especially since 1947 Pakistan has steadily sought
to separate the region physically, psychologically and politically, from rest of
Jammu Kashmir as whole.
Less than
three months before Aman sahib passed away, and despite in failing health, he
went to Gilgit to mobilise pressure against Pakistan government’s intentions to
annex Gilgit Baltistan into its federation as a province. For over a month Aman
sahib interacted with notables and opinion makers to create the desired momentum
against Islamabad’s decision. The momentum was reinforced later by Mr Yasin
Malik when he wrote to Prime Minister of Pakistan calling his government’s decision
detrimental to the freedom struggle regarding integration of GB as a province
of Pakistan.
During
this very intense few days in early January 2016 I was in contact with both
Aman sahib and Yasin sahib, and witnessed closely the astute manner in which
both leaders acted decisively, to avert a disastrous action by the Pakistan
government. Aman sahib however, did say something specific regarding Pakistan,
before he took the decision to visit Gilgit, about which I will not give any
details for the time being.
Suffice
to say however, that although he was critical of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, he was of
the considered opinion that Pakistan must extend unconditional political, and
diplomatic support on the right of Kashmiris to independence, and unfeterred
self-determination. And in this context saw Pakistan’s place in the Kashmir
imbroglio different from that of India. And here I am not stating anything that
most of us do not know.
In his
life Aman sahib did not see Jammu Kashmir become an independent country.
However in his life time he succeeded in creating a political movement that transcends
the division of our country and the nation.
The fact that the JKLF is led by a single leader, and the fact that the
JKLF is the only political party spearheading the liberation movement since
1947 that operates on both sides of the ceasefire line, and among Kashmiris in the
Diaspora. This not only reflects the unity of a divided country, but also it is
a testimony of the achievement by a legendary a leader.
The party
has become an iconic political reality of Aman sahib’s legacy for the nation,
and indeed those who are committed to a reunified and sovereign political
status for Jammu Kashmir, irrespective of their political, ideological, ethnic
or religious background. The JKLF of Aman sahib therefore, by its existence
guarantees, and ensures the fundamental right of each and every one of us throughout
the geographically, fractured state of Jammu Kashmir, to be the real
stakeholders on the future status of our country
Aman
sahib was a man of wisdom and vision. And as a visionary leader he
gave the occupying powers, India and Pakistan an honourable way out that would
satiate their respective egos over the Kashmir conflict, and strongly advocated
that Jammu Kashmir should become a bridge of peace, and friendship, rather than
a bone of contention and enmity between the neighbours.
Aman
sahib was intensely loyal towards his comrades in the party. He knew most party members by name, and
always showed humility and respect to all. He was a courteous and kind person
with enormous generosity of character, and would find the courage to forgive
individuals who had wronged him. Aman sahib was spiritual person who was deeply
influenced by the example of the Holy Prophet PBUH.
Aman sahib’s loyalty to comrades is quite well exemplified
in the manner in which he ensured from the platform of the JKLF, the
JKSLF, and indeed through his own written and spoken words, that the sacrifice
and shahadat of his colleague and co- ideologue Shaheed-e- Kashmir Muhammad
Maqbool Butt becomes, etched in the psyche of the nation.
It is therefore, not incidental that Shaheed-e-
Kashmir’s martyrdom has become an epitome of a subjugated nation’s struggle for azadi, for
freedom, for liberation and indeed for the strong belief that people of Jammu
Kashmir must become the masters of their
own destiny in their own land.
Aman sahib has rightfully ensured beyond any doubt,
that Maqbool Butt’s sacrifice merits, and deserves the recognition, the respect
and the gratitude of the entire nation.
Therefore,
for his legacy to remain a potent force for
independence, we must remain focused and determined about our overall
strategy and policy objectives, especially when responding to situations
and challenges that might arise from time to time, as indeed they do arise,
whether in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan or in Indian held Jammu Kashmir.
Those of
us who can remember the world as it was twenty years or so ago, can recall how
relatively accommodating it was to talk about our cause in London, New York, in
Washington or even in many European capitals including Brussels. Not so now and
this raises some serious challenges which we as a party have to face up to in a
politically mature and objective manner.
Aman sahib’s example reminds us that we have a
solemn duty to be disciplined, and respect the others, not because we agree
with them but because it is the right thing, for us to do. Aman sahib as a leader
was a pragmatist and a democrat, who recognised the rights of those who
disagreed with his party’s ideology. He was an ardent advocate of consensus and
actively espoused it.
Even with the successive Azad Kashmir
governments Aman sahib made every effort to encourage and espouse within a self-serving
leadership, a commitment that would reflect a political and diplomatic
relevance of the Azad Kashmir government to the freedom struggle in the name of
nearly five million people of Azad Kashmir.
The struggle to gain our people’s freedom has moved
on into a new phase, with new challenges, and new realities as I have alluded
to above. We should take cognisance of these realities, especially in
our neighbourhood. Our attitude to both India and Pakistan regarding their
respective positions on the Kashmir issue, should reflect these realities.
Aman
sahib as the architect and ideologue of the struggle, has clearly laid this out
for the movement. The overall national interests and objectives of the movement,
must remain central to our political and diplomatic activism, irrespective of
our feelings and emotions about each country. This objectivity should inform
each and every step and action of our tactical and strategic policy
formulations, and policy execution, without in any way compromising on our
political ideology.
There should be no confusion about where we are
heading. Our destination is clear. Our struggle is for a reunified and independent
Jammu Kashmir, whose people must exercise their unfettered right across both
sides of the forcibly divided country. It is the people of Jammu Kashmir
who must shape a dignified status of their nation, which is consistent with
their fundamental rights, and which they exercise freely, and without external
domination.
We as a party must ensure through our struggle that
our people gain the opportunity to exercise their right to decide- the right
which is an inherent right, a right that is inalienable and cannot be denied to
them by force. This is the clear party ideology, and this is what Aman sahib
stood for, struggled for until his last breath.
This is Aman sahib’s legacy and this is what we
have to preserve, and move on with objectivity, sincerity, determination and
confidence. Aman sahib was
a strong willed leader with a steely determination. He was a brave leader who took bold and
calculated decisions.
Aman
sahib was a strong advocate of a political solution over the Jammu Kashmir
issue. He lived a simple life and remained absolutely focused on the freedom
struggle.
This is
exactly what Aman sahib expected from himself in his life time, and this is
exactly how we should carry on his mission. On the second death anniversary of
the great leader, let us pledge that we will remain focused and united in
preserving Quaid-e- Tehrek’s legacy. This would be the most appropriate tribute
to his long struggle for a free and dignified future of twenty million people
across forcibly divided Jammu Kashmir.
Today we
as a party, and our leadership is just as much committed, determined and
politically prepared, as we ever were, to achieve these cherished goals of
freedom with dignity, and peace with justice. This is what Aman sahib struggled
for seventy long years of his life, and this is the steadfast position of our
leader and Chairman Mr Yasin Malik today. And as Allah Subhanwa ta’ala is our
witness, this is also our position behind him.
Jazak-Allah
Khair for listening to me.
Zafar
Khan-
April 29- 2018
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