I am writing to thank the HRC-Pakistan Punjab Chapter, specially the organizer of this event Rana Ali Zohaib for holding a conference on 27 of October in order to express solidarity with the people of Jammu Kashmir. Listening to the Pakistani speakers from various social, cultural and political school of thoughts, I think it is imperative to hold similar events for interactions between the Pakistani and Kashmiri intellectuals in general and the Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan in particular.
The political representatives in Pakistan elected by Kashmiri refugees have like the representatives of Hurriyet Conference in Islamabad, confined themselves to the government in Muzaffarabad and never extended their interaction with ordinary people of Azad Kashmir. Secondly, the elected representatives of refugees haven’t played any active role towards the solution of the protracted issue of Jammu Kashmir. Whenever we have asked anyone of them of their role in the independence movement, they said it is a matter between Pakistan and Azad Kashmir nor do they clarify where they spend budget received from Azad Kashmir Government. This has caused confusion and misunderstanding about their role and presence in the AJK Legislative Assembly. Having said that, the people of AJK believe that the citizenship of Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan should remain intact.
In any event, I believe that it is imperative to hold seminars for the interactions between Pakistani intellectual Community and Kashmiri activists. If the representatives of the Kashmiri refugees can’t fully participate in the Movement for the Reunification of Jammu Kashmir, they can at least strengthen relationships between Pakistani and AJK people through dialogues and discussions. The Muslim Umnah is already suffering from misunderstanding and disunity and we can’t afford this happening between Pakistan and Jammu Kashmir.
Rana Ali Zohaib is an Investigative Journalist from Pakistan. Migration Media Awards Pakistan 2022 Winner. Journalist of The Year 2023 Award Winner Dubai. Caree Achievements Award 2023 Winner Dubai. He is President of Pakistan Federal Union of Columnists (PFUC).
