The claim of freedom of press by All-Pakistan Newspapers Society  (APNS) termed by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist, a bundle of lies.       

Islamabad/Dec.31: In a statement issued by Mr. Shamsul Islam Naz General Secretary,  The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) has sharply reacted over the statement issued by the media owners organization -- the APNS --, in which it has been claimed that “the All-Pakistan Newspapers Society has always stood for the cause of freedom of press and expression.” The PFUJ termed it a bundle of lies and a calculated move to misguide the people at large.

In a rejoinder issued by the PFUJ here on Thursday on the APNS claim of striving for freedom of  the press in the country, the PFUJ said that since the inception of the APNS, its agenda and objectives, which it practically demonstrated were to "black-mail each and every government in power by exploiting leverage of the media for protecting their vested interest, thus acquiring a number of concessions in shape of taxes, import duties and other levies and gaining special treatment from the governments."

The PFUJ said that although the APNS claims that it had always stood for the cause of "freedom of press and expression," it cannot even quote a single example in which a single media owner had ever been targeted by terrorists, whereas since 9/11 incident, more than 50 journalists have lost their lives at the hands of terrorist groups or have been targeted and killed. 

The PFUJ said that the APNS cannot challenge this hard fact that in newspaper publications, it is the only media owner who alone has the power to decide the publication of articles etc or the contents to be aired on a TV channel, and over ninety per cent space and time is being consumed for criticizing civilian governments, scandalizing them. 

“Is any code of ethics being followed by the APNS for bringing out newspapers or media channels, adherence to rule of law, implementation of labour  laws, in their media houses, extending lawful rights to their employees and to ensure job security as even appointment letters are not issued to employees, and contract system had been introduced by them to escape from a number of legal obligations, depriving journalists of benefits of job security, provident fund, gratuity, medical cover and other facilities.  

Not only this, media owners have devised a unique method of deceiving the law, and under this trick, fake companies are being operated by them on paper on fake names, although they themselves are their real owners. 

The PFUJ pointed out that the APNS and its member publications are so greedy that there is no judicious distribution of advertisements and reading material on the front and back pages or even other pages of various newspapers. 

On many occasions, even space for headlines, banner headlines is sold by charging handsome money by the so-called leading national dailies and members of the APNS. “Is it in the line of freedom of expression and press?” the PFUJ questioned. 

It quoted an instance in which no front page news items were published by leading national dailies and space was sold to publish an advertisement on front or back pages to mint money. 

It further contended that big size advertisements by quacks and wrong-doings of various fake organizations have prominently been published by newspapers and also aired by the electronic media without any check. 

Ads of fake medicines, substandard food items and fake educational institutions as  well as financial organizations are accepted without any check, and even advertisements of condoms are aired on TV channels at prime time and published prominently as display advertisements on various pages, just to mint money, which has upset our cultural values and so much so as a result of such unchecked ads people are deprived of their hard earned money.

It all seems that it was being allowed by the APNS on the basis of its self-created code of ethics which was meant just to mint money, the PFUJ added.

The controversy over Kerry-Lugar Bill in Pakistan, was the intention of the Army Chief of the Country in order to extend his job, revealed by Hamid Mir, a Pakistani journalist in his urdu article published in daily Jang London on 22 Oct. 2009 by quoting a US Journalist. 

The irony was that a Country seeking economic assistance was bent on to impose their conditions on the donors in spite of the fact that historically all the assistance that was obtained by military governments was more or less on the same conditions. The question, why this time, they were all of a sudden woke-up and raise the flag for honour and dignity first?  There are number of assumptions to understand Pakistani ruling junta are as follows:-

1)      This time there is a civilian government in office and they are more incline towards social spending and public welfare rather than military corruptions as they claim,  in the name of civilian development.  In past all the assistances even for civilian was used for military purpose and this time there is a clear distinction and pre-conditions to safe guard the civilian fund so that military wouldn’t be able to steal it. 

2)      To use it (assistance bill from US) as a slogan of honour and dignity, is just  to under mine the civilian government so that military could get its loosing-grip-back-on-the  State and Society.  It is well know fact, in Pakistani historical context, that many law makers are in the Parliament, just because they been the people among political class supported and promoted by military and ISI and they wanted them to be there. 

3)      The 62 years of history of Pakistan, tells us that all the assistance whether in the shape of  public welfare or loan, never reach to the common  people, and mostly consumed by Army establishment. There fore people do not trust any foreign assistance to have any positive impact on public life that could reduce poverty, improve investment and to increase job opportunities. For example one of Pakistani journalist Salim Safi, wrote in his article in daily Jang, “I have no interest in Kerry-Lugar Bill because the money would never beneficial to the common people and would go back to western banks.  My village in FATA even today does not have radio signals”.     

4)  There is a lot of public out-cry for the money in the name of people either given in the shape  of economic assistance or loans, had been unaccounted for. For example even the International assistance for earth quick victims, is not visible on the ground or any evidence duly confirmed by the victims. The government is still struggling to cover it up from the world community. Further more, people are questioning the assistance given in the name of war-on-terror, is also gone missing.  Following is the reflections of Pakistani society appeared on Pakistani Press discussion forum:- 

quote: "Dear all,

I am from a middle class family, and always gave respect and honor to the Pakistan Army. But facts and ground realities are not that which seems. I am agree, Politicians are not good, but prove that they are going to sell our motherland, they are not but the others. Please review, and rethink the roles of our institutions, which actually are the department not institution. Another thing about me, it depends on you, believe or not, I have no commitment with any political party, but with the constitution.

Regards, Syed Imran shafqat, Content Editor, Samaa tv,Lahore. unquote.

Now it is revealed that all the fuss was just for a job.

The Kashmiri community in Britain always been very vocal and have sense of attachment to the socio-political, socio-cultural happenings of the Indian subcontinent, specially the politics of the divided State of Jammu Kashmir. The announcement by the Government of Pakistan of an “empowerment” package for Gilgit Baltistan attracted Kashmiri attention in Britain too. 

The cross section members of Kashmiri community in Britain meet on 13 Sep. 2009 to chalk-out a strategy and in the subject meeting Prof. Nazir Nasih, Mr. Gulam Hussain and Shams Rehman were deputed to make the draft resolutions to be approved in the next meeting on 27^th Sep. 2009.  Certainly the resolutions to be adopted was the document providing bases for unity among community to exert appropriate pressure in the best of interest of the people of Gilgit Baltistan in particular and people of the State of Jammu Kashmir in general.

The draft that was prepared by Shams and others was in need of some improvement.  I raise my concern and Shams asked to send my proposal.  I had review the whole document and e-mail to all.  The subject draft resolutions approved in the meeting on 27^th September 2009 including the representative from NAP.  The interesting aspect is that two members of NAP Prof. Sajjad Raja and Prof. Nadeem Aslam opposed the draft resolutions but failed to attend the meeting in order to defend their argument.

Sajjad Raja wrote; quote: “I have read the draft resolutions done by Mr. Afzal Tahir, but I am sorry to say that I cannot support these resolutions as they do not mention anywhere the truth that we Kashmiries are seeking total and unequivocal independence from both India and Pakistan. The resolutions support UN stand onKashmir which again we cannot recognize and the resolutions also have very soft tone for India. If we do not talk about total independence, support UN resolutions on Kashmir and just unilaterally and aggressively condemn Pakistan, that means we are indirectly supporting India. This situation is unacceptable to me”.  End of quote.

Please refer to: http://www.unitedkashmir.org.uk/kashmir.html#Conflict    and also   http://www.unitedkashmir.org.uk/analysis.html?part_id=8957&post_id=1439&action=view_comments

I wonder if it is the official policy of the NAP.  The fact of the matter is that every successive Government in Islamabad, day-in and day-out, making reference to UN resolutions. In fact it the official position of the Government of India, that the UN resolutions are not valid any more.  

Nadeem Aslam wrote; quote: “Do we still believe that UN resolution`s on Kashmir are providing a  comprehensive solution for the forcibly divided Jammu Kashmir  (IOK,POK,OGB,Chinese possessed area). If we can read UN resolutions in conjunction with Simla Agreement 2nd July, 1972,and the similar statements made by the two UN Sec. generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki Moon.Its turn international to bilateral and not any more in the UN.Please read them below? Simla Agreement 2nd July, 1972 Most importantly, it bound the two countries "to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations".

4. In order to initiate the process of the establishment of durable peace, both the Governments agreed that:

(i) Indian and Pakistani forces shall be withdrawn to their side of the international border.

(ii) In Jammu and Kashmir the line of control resulting from the cease-fire of December 17, 1971 shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognized position of either side. Neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations. Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat or the use of force in violation of this line.

Former Sec. Gen. United Nation`s  (UN) Koffi Annan said :
 UN resolutions on Kashmir did not come under  chapter  7(vii) of the UN  charter and where , therefore , not self enforcing.Unlike  the resolutions on East Timor and Iraq,which come under that particular chapter,the Kashmir resolutions require   the cooperation of both parties  (Ind.Pak) for implementation?  End quote.

Again, I wonder what Nedeem is trying to tell us, if it is the official position of the NAP?  I have noticed from the Invitation Card received from NAP for their function where Sajjad Raja is Chairman Convention Committee  while Nadeem Aslam Spokesperson IC JK NAP.  

The draft resolutions had been adopted in the meeting held on 27/09/09 where the rep from NAP was also present:-

Changes proposed by KIF

Draft Resolution (adopted on 27/9/09) on Gilgit Baltistan  13^th September 2009

We the representatives of the British-Kashmiri political Parties and Organisations (based in the UK) gathered here in Birmingham, UK on 13^th September 2009 under the name Campaign against Annexation of Gilgit Baltistan agreed that

We:-

• reaffirm the fact that Kashmir means Jammu, Valley, Ladakh, Baltistan,Gilgit and Poonch (AJK), officially known as Jammu Kashmir State is comprising of 85,000 square miles of it’s territory dully recognised by Pakistan, India and the UN through various bilateral treaties and resolutions.  That the successive governments of Pakistan have since accepted the UN, and UNCIP resolutions according to which Pakistan is to facilitate self governance of all the territories under its control under UNCIP Commission’s supervision and withdraw its presence from the territory of the State so that the Commission should take appropriate steps.

• We are united with and in support of the on-going struggle in Gilgit Baltistan for the self-government by the people of the territory according to the terms lay down in the UN and UNCIP resolutions and an improvement by the authority in terms of fundamental, human, political, economic, cultural and national rights would be welcome.  However, we are totally opposed to the forms and methods adopted by Pakistan for the Governance of these areas as they are in breach of the International Law and it is an empowerment  to the Government of Pakistan rather than the people of Gilgit Baltistan, of its pursuit of expansionism. These latest measures exposed Pakistan of its territorial greed and expansionistic motives.   

• categorically state that Pakistan has no right under International Law, and this fact clearly mentioned in it’s own  law (1973 Constitution of  Pakistan).  The non compliance of the International Law that was and is dully recognised by every successive government in Islamabad and regularly been used as reference, created vacuum of non-availability of any system to safe-guard the basic, human, political, cultural, economic and national rights of the people. The present government, too, failed to address the issue, that is to implement the UNCIP resolutions. The People of Gilgit and Baltistan and Azad Kashmir together have the right to determine the best way of Governance under the supervision of the UNCIP Commission. 

• firmly reiterate the territorial integrity and unity of the State, that is 85,000 square miles dully identified and recognised by UN, the Government of Pakistan and the Government of India. Any attempt by any foreign force,  to alter or change it’s  political and geographical entity, that is legally and historically recognised, would be resisted at all cost with full unity and vigour.  

• Warn the puppets in Muzaffarabad that displaying only the title of “Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government” is no benefit to the people at all. They must not be the part of the Government of Pakistan’s expansionistic move over the territory of our country. 

• strongly urge the government of Pakistan to stop violating the State Subject Rule with immediate effect in Gilgit and Baltistan and call a Political Convention of the representatives of the peoples from all the territories of the State under its control, to agree upon the constitutional and political forms of self-governance for these areas.  

• request all the democratic countries and powers of the world to support the people in all parts of divided Kashmir State including Gilgit and Baltistan to achieve the goal of political emancipation by acquiring genuine substantive  socio-political and economic rights deemed necessary for free and independent people in modern times.

• urge the United Nation Organization to support this resolution and call upon the government of Pakistan to implement the pending UN and UNCIP resolutions so to break the stalemate in the Conflict resolution of Kashmir.

 Urge all the Human Rights organisations and institutional bodies for justice and fairness to support this resolution and write to Pakistan Government to withdraw its presence by implementing the UN and UNCIP resolutions in its letter and sprit over the territory of the state known as AJK and Gilgit Baltistan.   

Gaddafi supported United States of Kashmir

In a major diplomatic break-through, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has supported the idea of an ''independent state'' for Kashmir and said that it should be a bridge between India and Pakistan.

New York, London, Srinager 24 Sep 2009: "Kashmir should be an independent state, not Indian, not Pakistani. We should end this conflict. It should be a Ba'athist state between India and Pakistan," the Libyan leader said in his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

He used 100 minutes instead of his allotted 15 minutes slot, and slammed both the United States and the United Nations, and termed the Security Council as the terrorist council.
Gaddafi opposed the induction of big powers into the UN Security Council, saying such a move would further tilt the balance of power.
In his first speech in 40 years to the world body, he said opening the doors of the UNSC for big powers would "add more poverty, more injustice and tension at the world level".
"There would be high competition between Italy, Germany, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Japan, Argentina, Brazil...," Gaddafi said during his more than one- and-a-half-hour long address.
Stressing that there must be equality among member states, he noted that since India and Pakistan were both nuclear powers, if India had a seat then Pakistan would want one as well.
"We reject having more seats," said the Libyan leader since it would give "rise to more superpowers, crush the small people."

Kashmiri welcomed the speech, a voice for change that is needed.  Kashmir International Front welcomed the speech as a positive step in the right direction from Arab/African leadership. Both Pakistan and India must learn the lesson from history and to avoid the politics of hate, conflict and confrontation and instead to embrace a police of openness, cooperation and futuristic rather than living in past with a scare-mongering approach to each other.

The APHC, on Thursday welcomed the statement of Libyan President at the UN General Assembly and urged India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir issue according to the wishes and aspirations of the people

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, has welcomed the Libyan leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi’s statement in the UN General Assembly that Kashmir should be an independent buffer state between India and Pakistan. He termed the statement as right and timely advocacy of Kashmiris’ wishes and aspirations.

Pakistan failed to abide by the International Law, PNP

London, Sep 24, 2009, a protest organized by United Kashmir People National Party in front of Pakistan High Commission London.  The protest started at 2pm and ended 4pm after handing over a petition to the High Commission over to the question of Gilgit Baltistan.

The petition high lighted the point that the question of rights of the people of Gilgit Baltistan arises due to the vacuum created by the authority of the Government of Pakistan, that was not implementing the UNCIP resolutions. The people, both AJK and Gilgit Baltistan dully protected by the UNCIP resolutions but every successive Government in Islamabad failed to abide by the International Law that deal the subject territory of the State.

The petition acknowledged the on going struggle in Gilgit Baltistan and pledge to continue their movement of protest in order to press the demands to implement the UNCIP resolutions. 

The protestors continue raising slogans “IS PAR BE MANGHAN AZADI US PAR BE MANGHAN AZADI ( freedom on both sides i.e. Pakistani and Indian), we want united and Independent Kashmir, we support the just struggle of the people of Gilgit Baltistan, No to terrorism, yes to democracy. No to violence, yes to peace. No to so-called package, yes to UNCIP resolutions.

The participants amongst others were, Usman Kiyani, Jameel Latif, Khalid Raja, Zafar Chughtai, Saqib Rafique, Akhtar Kashmiri, Mujtaba Shah and Irfan Khan. Afzal Tahir of KIF was also present.

The question of Pakistan’s illegal annexation of Gilgit Baltistan is becoming the hot subject.  The subject package announced by Islamabad, do not carry any substance in it, that would benefit to the people of Gilgit Baltistan, in particular or the people of the State in general.  The forcibly division of the State for last 62 years, resulted serious hard-ship to the population both in terms of Political, human, economic and cultural rights.  

There is no free movement of goods and services between two parts, resulting in to deprivation of the population of their mutual benefits, in socio-economical, socio-cultural and socio-political development. The means of productions that was by and large, a-kinship-of-small-land-owners subsequently reduced to minimum because of high birth rate and yet not allowed to develop itself from a tribo-agrarian society into and agro-industrial society, the only way to provide job opportunities. This is the reason that in both part of the State, compare to Pakistan and India, there is high owner-ship of the small holdings and low urbanization. In Azad Kashmir, there is 88% ownership, 10% tenant-cum-owner and 2% tenant and more or less the same case with Gilgit Baltistan as well as Indian side.  This approach turned both Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan a free market for goods and services of Punjab and NWFP. 

The public demand in both parts for the reunification started right at the time of the State’s forcibly division.  There are many who gave their lives while defying the force division but neither Pakistan, nor India or even UN ever realized this aspect and never try to understand the local aspiration of the population. The People of Baltistan have long been demanding for the opening of Kargil route.  This demand is in line with UNCIP resolutions.  As per the UNCIP resolutions, there should not be any bar on the free movement of people, services and goods.     

As per news coming out of Gilgit Baltistan, people have rejected the subject package on the plea that no substance but just propaganda of deception, manipulation, disguise of real motives of Islamabad that is well known colonial tactics to delay, divide and rule.  The people in other parts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir are standing by with the people of Gilgit Baltistan.  During the time of Mahraja Government, these areas were given preference in jobs and other opportunities.  The political parties in Indian side of the State are raising their voices to be heard.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir a part of PoK, many protest rallies been held in support of the people of Gilgit Baltistan for their rights including the right to self-determination.

JK NAP has  given a call to sit-on protest in front of  Pakistani occupied Kashmir Assembly building on Oct 5th, 2009.   Mr. Liaqat Hayyat announced that JK NAP and JK NSF activists, members and leaders will be reaching in Muzaffrabad POK capital city on Oct 5th, from all over POK and will be participating in a sit-on protest.   As their statement “JK NAP made this announced after having a series of demonstrations all over POK areas to denounce proposed fraud Gilgit Baltistan rights package but POK Govt neither condemned it nor separated from this so called package”.  The statement further said that “JK NAP and JK NSF members are ready to confront peacefully, this so called useless assembly and its members have not been doing what they are suppose to be doing and should have been taken up Gitgit Baltistan issue with Pakistani Govt but they have failed to represent the aspirations of POK people”.  Their caravans would be reaching Muzaffrabad, an attempt to expose the puppet rulers.  They also appealed to others to join in.

In Britain, on September the 13^th, 2009, the Kashmiri from cross sections, had meet in Birmingham.  There was total unity of thought in supporting the just struggle of the people of Gilgit Baltistan and rejecting the so-called empowerment package.  The participants were of the opinion that this is nothing but an attempt of deception and manipulation of the public opinion in order to disguise the attempt of illegal annexation of Gilgit Baltistan.  They were of the opinion to involving the International Peace Movements and for this they need to organize Kashmiri community. The unity of Kashmiri community would be able  to build and mobilize the International support for the peace movement.  They plan to meet on September the 27^th, 2009 to chalk out further actions.

UKPNP, as per the text message by Jameel Latif, organizing a picket protest in front of Pakistan High Commission on September the 24^th,  2009, at 2 pm local time. Kashmir International Front (KIF) would join the picket and expecting others to join in.  

The issue is gearing-up and involving people of cross sections of the opinion. In the coming days and months, it is expected that more people would involve.