The 4000 sqm territory of Azad Jammu Kashmir had been termed as the so called “Base Camp” in 1947. It meant that this territory had become independent with a government in Muzaffarabad having its own President, Legislative Assembly and Judiciary. The Base Camp claimed it had become fully independent and it would campaign to secure the independence of the much larger part of the state of Jammu Kashmir occupied by India though some people believed we didn’t become independent but divided and therefore, got worse off rather than better off.
However, both India and Pakistan began to consolidate their position in their respective parts of Jammu Kashmir and objectives of politicians of divided state of Jammu Kashmir, changed soon after the Karachi Agreement between Pakistan and Azad Kashmir in 1949 and removal of Sheikh Abdullah from power by India. Pakistan began to administer this territory and Azad Kashmir government just became a rubber stamp. Pakistan appointed its own Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police and Finance Secretary, who were not accountable to Azad Kashmir government and its people, but Pakistani government . The AJK government forgot the purpose of the Base Camp and its disenchanted people retermed it as a “Race Camp” of power politics. The Muslim Conference was the only political party in AJK. The thirst of power produced branches of Pakistan Peoples Party, Muslim League Nawaz and then PTI. These parties became regressive and oppressive to such an extent that nobody would get a job without a proven political loyalty. Whereas, the rulers and bureaucrats would neither pay taxes nor electric bills. The children of rulers and bureaucrats would get job even if they were not qualified for the job. Public Health and Education have become impossible for ordinary people.
We conducted a Qualitative Research with recommendations to reform the national institutions for Social Justice, but the rulers of the AJK neither had competence nor will to pay any attention. This kind of ignorance, artigance and oppression eventually led to the formation of Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, which united the people against the coalition government of Muzaffarabad. The government first behaved arrogantly, but was eventually forced to give in to people’s power. The Rights Movement set an example of a Peaceful Protest in the history of the subcontinent. The Government signed an agreement with the Jammu Kashmir Action Committee, agreeing to the Charter of Demands that includes withdraw of Presidential Ordinance banning peaceful assembly, reduction of electric bills in the light of 1963 agreement , health, educational, airport in AJK and other reforms. The peaceful struggle of the Joint Action Committee led by a young reformist Shaukat Nawaz Mir and also supported by overseas Azad Kashmiris, has completely transformed the AJK society and diaspora. Political attitudes and vision have changed. It is now character, not charisma that matters. We hope the government will learn from its experiences with joint action committee implementing the agreement and not force the people to close down again all entry points between Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir.
