WHO IS WHO! POLITICAL PARTIES

But the forces of struggle and fortitude, upheld the banner of freedom movement and kept the torch of high spirits burning against all fearful odds of Indian occupation, at a time when elders forsook it, religious clergy kept mum, opportunists amassed wealth and Pakistan equally lacked will and firmness of mind to support it. This is the question which needs to be answered correctly with historical logic. By making this exercise we would be able to unveil truth, save our nation from further deception and treachery and lead to a solution of the issue, according to our requirements and perceptions. Surely, a coterie of vested interests who today try to become the leaders of our unfortunate movement worked overtly and covertly against the concept of freedom, and right of self-determination.

Forces and factors of liberation were not in full picture of Pakistan during the last two decades and the important national issue of Kashmir was not on the agenda of Pakistan during that period. Rather the people of Kashmir were left at the mercy of circumstances and subjected to every ridicule and satire. It is strange that the burden of driving out a huge modern army of India from Kashmir was put solely on unarmed people small in number, surrounded by high snow covered Mountains and forests. In spite of so many obstacles and conspiracies, young sons and daughters of Kashmir stood every time firm and resolute and ideas of freedom flourished and gushed like the water of fountains and springs, but every sort of dust and rubbish was thrown on these gleaming springs, which stopped the world from seeing the real faces and brains of this movement. Today some of our friends and foes say that the freedom movement is with out leadership. Apparently it may look so, but the purpose behind this propaganda is to pave way for dishonest and discredited politicians and discourage the People. However, the spirit and metal of Kashmir is recognised by all and the study of Kashmir and Kashmiris is an important subject for students, scholars, historians, writers and journalists in Pakistan. Unfortunately, Pakistanis are not well aware of political, Religious, social and economic conditions and also freedom struggle, going on inside the occupied region for the last two decades. The youth of Kashmir is at war with his own -self, his environment as well as faceless, foxy and puppet politicians besides the Indian rulers.

Often leaders forget their objectives and values by paying more attention to the numerical superiority. Mass support is certainly important but vigilance against opportunists and double faced is of paramount importance. We require support of Allah and Allah will not support us if we hand Over this sacred movement to chauvinists and fools as was done in the past. We must guard against all hanky-panky today, more than ever before, because opportunists, sensing the defeat of pro-India forces, work out their future strategy under the garb of liberation and try to expend their area of influence, and change the whole movement into a war of survival between different old and new politicians. This situation needs correct analysis by media men in Pakistan.

Under the given intriguing and intricate circumstances every Pakistani must make a true and unbiased analysis of events, developments, people, personalities and organizations and groups in the fray. Any negligence in this matter is fraught with danger, because every group and class is interpreting developments and introducing men and manners according to his own interest. Not only external forces and agents but internal needs and domestic values are also counted, rather public mind is forced to believe in people and politicians who played no role for freedom in the past, nor they are sincere and competent to give the movement of freedom a successful direction.

We invite the people of Pakistan and those at the helm of affairs to see Kashmir and its politics from the -eyes of Kashmiris. Kashmir freedom struggle was always domestic, stimulated by Islamic and democratic perceptions. Our people revived it in fifties in an independent and indigenous manner which besides other reasons forced Abdullah and Afzal Beig to toe the same line. But the plebiscite Front under the presidentship of Mirza Afzal Beig was more concerned about building the cult of Abdullah in and outside the occupied region than the future of the unfortunate Kashmiris. Therefore, our movement faced two barriers, one was the re-emergence of aggressive one man Abdullah cult and other was the imposition. of puppets and tame cats on Kashmiris by India, who put Kashmir in a terrible mess.

Between 60's and 70's our youth movement for freedom gained momentum and popularity in colleges and schools. These movements did not pin hopes with the existing political and religious leadership of Srinagar. We Kept a close eye on Abdullah and his colleagues and smelt from 60's what was being cooked inside the detention houses between Indian and the plebiscite front leaders. Experience shows that some times jails are safer places where unholy alliances take place and when fame hungry politicians fail to get fame by Way of normal and clean activities, they use foul means or prefer to stay in jails with the same design in mind. The same is not applicable to the honest sons of an nation.

Our fears were not unfounded, since the leadership was devoid of democratic and Islamic perceptions. With the result 1975 delivered Beg Partha Sarthy accord to the people which reinstalled Abdullah as the Chief Minister of Kashmir after a lapse of twenty two years. It was an unholy reunion of political crooks Of Congress Party and Plebiscite Front. Our youth and lovers of freedom understood it well and they regrouped themselves in Oct., 74. Jammu and Kashmir Peoples league was the outcome of deliberations between our freedom fighting youth organizations backed by distinguished sons full of spirit of sacrifices and determination. The JKPL reiterated its unshakeable faith in the freedom movement, right of self-determination, and democratic, social and economic order based on the Islamic ideology. The party also resolved that the final solution of Kashmir issue would be brought off by the people of Kashmir themselves by exercising the right of self determination under the auspices of UN.

The Indian Govt. and its satellites in Kashmir black listed the organization and started surveillance of workers from the very day of its birth. The workers and the sympathisers of Jammu and Kashmir peoples league were implicated in serious criminal cases, fabricated by secret agencies against them and mental and physical torture was perpetrated on us in jails, detention camps and interrogation centres during 70's and 80's. This led to the economic strangulation of our sympathisers. The peoples League was never allowed to carry on peaceful political activities even when there was no J&K Disturbed Areas Act and The Armed Forces Special Powers Act. There was undeclared imposition of these laws. Those were the days when Ghulam Muhammad Bulah, an activist of J&KPL from Sopore was killed in central jail Srinagar in Feb. 75, following his arrest and brutal canning in Sopore police station for participating in a demonstration against the Delhi accord of Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah.

Another group of freedom fighters was organized by Soofi Muhammad Akbar in 1977 under the name of Mahaz-e-Azadi. He was a close associate of Abdullah and disagreed with him on the signing of the Delhi Accord, 1-974. In 1983 Mahaz-e-Azadi welcomed Muhammad Azam lnqilabi, a devoted freedom fighter, patriot and leader in its ranks. He went to jails, risked Journeys to AJ&K between 1965 and 1991, and wrote books on freedom. Today he continues to be the chief patron of Mahaz-e-Azadi J&K. He went back to the occupied Kashmir in Dec. 1994, after spending four years in AJ&K.

Another youth movement called Jamiat-Talaba was launched by Jamaati-Islami J&K in 1977, with Sheikh Tajammul Islam as its Chief. An international Islamic Moot on Kashmir convened by the said Jamiat in Aug. 1980, was banned by the Govt, and people in large number, including Syed Ali Gilani, Sheikh Tajammul Islam And this writer were arrested and lodged in far flung prisons of the state. After a few months Maulana Saadud-din Ahd Dr. Ayub Thakar also, were arrested and detained under the J&K public safety Act, 1978. Later J.1, replaced I.J.T. by another youth wing and its chief Sheikh Tajammul Islam left the state in 1984 to continue his mission abroad. Dr lnayatullah Andrabi succeeded him and re-christened it by Mahazi-Islami in 1993. Now a days Sheikh Tajammul Islam runs Institute of Kashmir Affairs in Pakistan.

Jamaati Islami J&K was formed by an educationist a school teacher and Hafiz-e-Quran Maulana Sad-ud-din in late 1940's in Srinagar, under the inspiration of the ideology of Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi. Iqamati Din was the Party's main objective. It also believed in the solution of Kashmir issue through a free, fair and impartial plebiscite. The party laid stress on the moral and educational dimensions of man and society. In 1970 it participated in the elections of local bodies and in the following years, (1971, 1972), it look part in the elections of Loke sabha and state legislature. In q990 , when the entire valley roared for Jihad like lions in a forest, the J.1. launched Hizbul Mujahideen to organise radical programme of Jihad against India. And, J.1. (AJ&K) is making contributions under the leadership of Abdul Rasheed Turabi in this odyssey of liberation.

Leaders of J.1. (J&K) paid heavy price for their ideology in the occupied Kashmir and Syed Ali Geelani assumed distinction in the hierarchy of his organization as the champion of anti India movement. Maulana Hakim Ghulam Nabi, Amir J.I. and Ghulam Ahmad Ahrar belong to cadre of 40s. Other top leaders of Jamaat lslami include Ghulam Nabi Nawshahry, Muhammad Yousuf Shah (nom de guerre Syed Salahuddin) M Ashraf Sahraey, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Prof Ashraf Saraf. Qari Saif-ud-din, Sheikh Muhammad Sulaiman, Ghulam Muhammad Butt are other senior leaders of J.I.

I.S.L. Islamic Student League J&K is headed by Shakeel Ahmed Bakhshi. He was released in 1994 after, long confinement in Indian jails. Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani who also faced prison after prison in the occupied region, led this party since 1992 in AJ&K and went back to Srinagar in 95. Shakeel Ahmad Bakhshi recently joined the J&KLF. And, this is how the ISL virtually merged into KLF.

J&KLF Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front is headed by Muhammad Yasin Malik in the Indian occupied Kashmir, who was released after traumatic detention in 1994. Martyrs like Ishfaq Wani, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, Aijaz Dar belonged to this party. In fact they were the persons, including Javeed Ahmed Mir, Hilal Beig who introduced JKLF in the occupied part in 1988. Bashir Ahmad Butt is yet another staunch leader of this movement in I.H.K. The party led by Amanullah Khan was founded and nourished in Pakistan, AJ&K and UK on the basis of the concept of a united, sovereign and independent State of Jammu and Kashmir, No doubt the blood of Muhammad Maqbool Butt in 1984 infused fresh energy in this organization. However, the party leadership looks moderate as compared to others of the same ideology in Pakistan. Bashir Ahmad Siddiqi and Basharat Reza chiefs of this party and their 22 mujahideen were massacred / martyred by occupation troops in Hazratbal in March this year (1996). They were affiliated with Aman-ullah Khan.

M.U.F./M.C. It was during the turmoil of 80's that a political alliance like the Muslim United front Came into existence. Its birth was followed by the Muslim employees Front, Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat after his dismissal from the Govt. Degree College Sopore announced the formation of, MUF. Dr. Ghulam Qadir- Wani and Prof Ashraf Saraf worked as G. Secretary of MUF in succession. on Sep. 2, 1986, Molvi Abbas Ansari a shia leader President unjumani Itehad ul Muslimeen became convenor of the MUF. in 1987, Prof Abdul Ghani Butt formed J&K Muslim Conference. Both of them faced ordeals of imprisonment between 1990 and 1994 in Indian jails. The party's fountain head is AJ&K after 1947 and Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan PM (AJK) as the key figure plays, pivotal role in the political affairs of Kashmir. Mushtaq Ahmed Wani represents, JKMC in Pak.

The persistent efforts both individual and collective by the young sons of Kashmir kept the flame of freedom kindled against all odds and opposite storms. Shabeer Ahmed Shah bore the brunt of Jails. Fazl Haq Qureshi faced economic strangulation and prisons. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Suffered ordeals of imprisonment and same was the case with Bashir Ahmed Sheikh (BPR), Nazir Ahmad Khan (Islamabad), Gh. Muhammad Ganai, Zahoor Ahmed Sheikh and Mukhtar Ahmed waza and Muzaffar Ahmed Shah (Bpr). Gh. Muhammad Khan, Sopore was crippled by economic crisis and his shop was burnt. Dr. Abdul Ala sacrificed his material comforts for the goal -of freedom. Crusaders and top ranking patriots of J&K peoples league, and martyred by Indian occupation forces are Abdul Khaliq Ganai Shaheed alias Jamal Afghani, Nazeer Ahmed Shah Shaheed, Gh. Muheeudin Sheikh 'alias Khalil-Ur-Rehman Shaheed, Fayaz Ahmed Shah Shaheed, M. Sultan Mir Shaheed alias Hashim, Gh. Muhammad Butt Alias Rashid, Fida Hussain (BIJBD) Bashir Ahmad Mir, Sajad Mir, (Islamabad), Manzoor Ahmad Shair, Fayaz Ahmad Layguro (Islamabad), Irshad Ahmad Kahn (Islamabad) Other champions are: Mushtaq-ul-islam Hizbullah and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar (Al-Umar). In this great caravan are found Nasir-ur-Islam Shaheed (Jm), Maqbool Alayee Shaheed, Ashraf Dar Shaheed, Shams-ul-Haq Shaheed, M. Abdullah Bangroo Shaheed M. lsmaeel Butt Shaheed(HM). Altaf Qureshi, Javaid Ahmad Shala (IKH), Majid Dar(MM) Sajad Mir (TM), Khileel Jibran (ALBQ) Azhar Masood of Harkat Ansar). Many patriots still languish In prisons and there is a galaxy of valiant sons of Kashmir who laid down their lives in accordance with their commitment and faith in truth. Our women folk played no less a role shoulder to shoulder with men, to further the cause of liberation and Islam. Syedah Asiyah Andrabi chief of Dukhteran-e-Millat made memorable contribution to the struggle field in occupied Kashmir. Indian authorities arrested her along with her new-born baby and husband and put them under detention for one year, with out any success to break the iron will of the young mother.

Mujahideen from Pakistan, AJK, Afghanistan, Sudan and Arab countries also sacrificed their blood in the burning paradise of Kashmir. Kashmiris will always remember the role of their brothers (guest Mujahideen) in different parts of the state.

Shaheed Abdul Khaliq Ganai (Jamal Afghani), top level leader J&KPL after his custodial murder in 1993.