MUZAFFARABAD: Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister and senior PML-N leader Raja Farooq Haider on Saturday warned that India was investing heavily on ideological subversion in the liberated territory and some from amongst the young generation were unknowingly falling prey to its propaganda, which needed to be dealt with under a systematic strategy.

“I am not antagonistic to any ideology. People who stand for an independent state of Jammu and Kashmir in good faith and not as anyone’s pawns are respectable to me, but any final decision regarding the future status has to be taken through a [UN sponsored] referendum,” he said at a prayer gathering held here to mark the death anniversary of his father, Raja Mohammad Haider Khan, an eminent leader of Kashmir freedom movement.

Pointing out that almost all pro-freedom leaders across the divide had spent their lives in Indian jails, Mr Haider questioned: “Why can’t we agree on a single point - the plebiscite - for the sake of our oppressed Kashmiri brethren?”

“I believe that all units of the [erstwhile princely] state of Jammu and Kashmir can unite on the option of unconditional right to self-determination,” he said.

Mr Haider said he held Maqbool Butt Shaheed in high esteem with whom he had held several sittings.

Without specifically naming anyone, Mr Haider said some people were trying to widen friction in AJK by resorting to hatred, bigotry and foul language.

“Across the divide, sacrifices have been offered by generation after generation. Instead of praising their courage and valiance, we are fighting with each other and nobody seems to be concerned about the obligations we owe to our struggling brethren.”

Taking strong exception to those who were drawing comparison between the price of commodities in AJK and occupied Kashmir, Mr Haider said Kashmiris had not offered their blood for cheap rice and pulses, but for freedom.

Of the parliamentary polls in occupied Kashmir, Mr Haider recalled that India had been conducting this exercise for the past seven decades but no one in the world bought elections as a substitute for the plebiscite.

“The election drama in the current situation carries no significance either. It will make no difference to the status of the longstanding issue… Though there are some difficulties at the moment but Kashmiris have gone through similar situations in the past as well. Neither has their movement stopped before nor will it weaken now.”

“Their strategies keep on changing in accordance with the situation and available opportunities.”

Of AJK’s internal situation, Mr Haider maintained that following a court judgment, all legislators had become free of party affiliations and as such there was no political party in the assembly.

“I am a low-ranking political worker of PML-N. Iwant to see myparty strengthened and will play my role for the same. However, in the prevailing circumstances, the onus is on party office bearers to devise a course of action to deal with the prevailing situation and make the party strong,” he said.

He maintained that political parties had practically become irrelevant and non-existent in AJK due to the ideological deterioration.

He vowed that he could continue to play his role for the freedom movement and development of AJK.

“I would like to ask the AJK people, particularly the political workers, to bestir themselves because bad times do not last long and are followed by good times.What’s needed is perseverance.”

He also advised the coalition government not to axe and starve temporary employees and keep in mind that it had itself come into existence without any merit.

“Those who bring anyone to power are considered equally responsible for the failures and malfunctions of government,” he said, in a reference to the powers that be.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2024