JK News Today Commentary
Massive protests in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) have humbled Pakistan’s government and its proxy in the region. Pakistan was forced to withdraw controversial Presidential Order that curtailed the civil liberties including right to protest. This symbolized victory of sorts for the people who thought that enough is enough and they need to assert their right to protest against the atrocities unleashed on them by the establishment.
This has given them enough confidence to take on Pakistani government –which is hybrid in nature and content. As the Pakistan government has been brought to knees another fact is reckoning the region is it can achieve more and better goals as far their collective freedoms are concerned. They are about to say goodbye to Pakistan as they have become completely sick and intolerant of the atrocities that Islamabad-Rawalpindi unleashed on them.
On Sunday, the government withdrew presidential Ordinance extended to PoJK, which Pakistan fondly calls “Azad Jammu Kashmir” suggesting a fake impression that the people in the region had all the freedom, including self-governance, was withdrawn on Sunday after the people braving brutal winter conditions gathered at the entry point and threatened to march to Chattar area of Muzaffarabad, the capital city, where legislative Assembly is located. The Government agreed to all their demands after the protestors showed no signs of relenting.
The Presidential Ordinance regulating public assemblies for public order and safety was extended to the so-called “AJK” on November 20. The authorities had warned that violations would be dealt with heavy done of punishments – imprisonment for three years and fine or both.
The POJK authorities at their press conference in Muzaffarabad on November 20 said: “Under this ordinance, any gathering or assembly in the region requires a written application for permission to be submitted to the district magistrate {competent Authority) at least seven days in advance.”
“The authority will decide on the request within a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of seven days, based on the law and order situation and security clearance reports.” And, “If permission is granted, the protest will only be allowed at designated locations and within specified times.”
“In case permission is denied, the applicant appeals to the divisional commissioner within 15 days. Further a review petition against the Divisional Commissioner’s order can also be filed with the home secretary within the same time frame.” And, “In the event of an unauthorized gathering or assembly, the district magistrate through the police would disperse the crowd and violators could face imprisonment of up to three years, fines, or both.”
In addition to this, it was also stated” “ Any individual , group, or organization , wishing to make demands must follow legal procedures and present them to the authority rather than taking unilateral actions and unlawfully compromising the civil liberties.” It was also made clear that “any propaganda against national security or state institutions under the guise of this law would be dealt strictly.”
The people did not take it lightly. They took to streets and made it a mass movement. This was a flashpoint of their patience with the Pakistani establishment that had been testing over the decades. So they told Pakistan that these curbs on their liberties had to be reversed lock, stock and barrel.
Why did Pakistan agree to meet the demands of the people? Many would say that it was due to the nature and intensity of protests in all parts of the POJK which scared Islamabad, which in turn, directed the proxy government to undo the damage caused by the imposition of the ordinance. Yes, it was so. But what were scarier for Pakistan government and its proxies in the occupied territories are the consequences that were there for all to see. The POJK people have learnt new lessons in the changing geopolitics of the region: they have seen that how the people on the other side of the LoC (Jammu and Kashmir) were having much better quality of life and the handholding that they were getting from government of India. While denouncing Pakistan and its agents in POJK, the people have also raised slogans in favourof India. This scared Pakistan government no end. Their call for “Azadi” from Pakistan is a poison for the ears of Pakistani establishment as that denotes not that the people want freedom from Pakistan alone, but also they want to be reunited with the original Jammu and Kashmir where the Government of India has uplifted the quality of life and removed all their suspicions of the yesteryear.
