Well, all of us know that since partition of 1947, Kashmir issue has remained a bone of contention between Pakistan and India. This issue is the fundamental reason of hatred and disharmony between these two nations. From beginning of their schooling, masses at both side of the border are taught that Kashmir is their territory that has been occupied by the nation across the border. Historians, book writers, bloggers, columnists, electronic media and all such sources of information at both sides tend to favor their stances – naturally. In choosing their words and expressions, they tend to offend ground realities and feelings of each other. Therefore, somehow, it also becomes a matter of ego at both sides of the border and the illness of this attitude has to be faced by none other than Kashmiris themselves. Today, through this piece of writing, let Us present a comparison of perspective of both sides in this regard with a hope that the matter may get resolved and Kashmiris might be able to live their life according to their will and choice.
Kashmir has been a Muslim majority area. Nevertheless, being a princely state, in 1947 when fate of millions was being decided, Maharaja Hari Singh, the local Hindu ruler of Kashmir, wanted Kashmir to remain independent. In this regard, he signed in a standstill agreement with Pakistan and India both. The entire scenario changed when in October 1947 Maharaja confiscated armaments from Muslims who were formerly conscripted into British Army. The weapons were distributed among local Hindu village Defence forces that was followed by a revolt by Muslims of Kashmir and they were unofficially supported by Pashtun tribesmen from Pakistan. The tribesmen supported Kashmiri Muslims without Pakistani approval. In sheer agitation, Maharaja Hari Singh asked India for military assistance but India was of the view that sending troops to a neutral state will be possible unless Kashmir signs the letter of accession with India. To suppress the uprising, Maharaja’s army along with other Hindu extremists’ organization worked together and launched various operations, torturing, mistreating and punishing Kashmiri Muslims unduly. It is reported that tens of thousands people were massacred during this widespread violence the majority of which was consisted of Muslims. Under such a duress the Hindu ruler, against the wish of majority of Kashmiris who were Muslims, signed a temporary instrument of accession with India on 26 October 1947. This accession was instantly argufied and challenged by Pakistan claiming that the ruler had no right to agreement when the standstill agreement with Pakistan was still in force. After accession, on 27 October 1947, Indian troops landed in Kashmir to fight the revolt. This resulted in first ever Pakistan India war. In this regard, Indian history books, scholars, researchers have something different to say. They are of the view that Kashmir being a Muslim majority area, Maharaja Hari Singh didn’t wish to merge with India or Pakistan and tried to negotiate with India and Pakistan to have independent status of its state. A movement in the state led by Sheikh Abdullah of National Conference was brought into action that aimed at getting rid of Maharaja Hari Singh. Sheikh Abdullah was close to Jawaharlal Nehru hence was not inclined towards Pakistan. Pakistan became impatient and couldn’t wait for long. It started violating the standstill agreement. On 22 October, Pakistan Pashtun tribesmen invaded Kashmir and reached Baramullah. As per their books, the invasion was unofficially approved by army. So that’s the point of twist. Pakistan is of the view that Kashmiri Muslims were being suppressed and tortured in and India presents it otherwise.
During this, India’s the then prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru promised a referendum stating that the fate of state of Jammu & Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people. The pledge we have given not only to the people of Kashmir, but also to the world. We will not and cannot back-out of it. On 1st Jan 1948 India took the matter to United Nations. After, security council resolution there was a cease fire from 1 Jan 1949 and both Pakistan and India agreed to cease fire line that is known as LOC – Line of Control. The cease fire line became the de facto border splitting Kashmir into two. In 1951, UN passed a resolution for referendum under UN supervision asking Pakistan and India to withdraw their troops and lessen forces. Here again, India is of the view that since, Pakistan has not withdrawn its forces, therefore the resolution has remained ineffective. However, on the face of it, it seems that both Pakistan and India are reluctant that if any of these two countries calls back its troops from their respective administered area of Kashmir, the opponent country will invade and occupy that place. So here again the sufferers are none other than Kashmiris and matter remains in deadlock condition. Over the next 70 years, Pakistan and India have fought three wars over Kashmir. This is the most militarized zone in the world today where more than 700,000 troops are maintained by India in its controlled area alone. Various international organizations, reporters, visitors have reported innumerable human rights violations i.e. physical and mental torture, rape, enforced disappearances by Indian troops in Indian controlled Kashmir and it continues even today. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in this entire tenure. Pakistan also maintains a huge military force in its administered part of Kashmir. On the other hand, India has blamed Pakistan on various occasions for illegal support to Kashmiris and rooting militants there.
What is article 370 & 35-A?
Article 370 and 35 A was the outcome of instrument of accession that was signed between Maharaja Hari Singh and the then Prime Minister Nehru of India. The instrument resulted in transfer of three things i.e. Defence, external affairs and communications to the dominion of India. At that time, Indian Government promised that the people of the state would determine the internal constitution of this state and the nature of extent of jurisdiction of India over the state, through their own constituent assembly. In enactment of this commitment, Article 370 was incorporated in the Constitution of India.
Article 35A of the Indian constitution is an article that empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.
Under this, a citizen of India is treated as a ‘permanent resident’ of the state:
1.If on 14 May 1954 he was a state subject or having lawfully acquired immovable property in the state and have been the resident for 10 years prior to that date
2.Or any person who before 14 May, 1954 was a state subject and who having migrated to Pakistan after 1 March 1947, returns to the state for resettlement.
3. In any other conditions, a person will not be considered as the permanent resident of J&K and hence will not have the privileges as stated in the J&K Constitution.
On 5 August 2019, India revoked this special status of Jammu & Kashmir that was given to it through article 370 and 35A. This resulted in extreme protest and condemnation throughout the Kashmir, Pakistan, China and various different parts of the world. UN Security Council also called its meeting and endorsed the resolution of the disputed matter between Pakistan and India in accordance with agreed instruments and resolutions.
Logical Connection of State Junagadh and Hyderabad with Kashmir Issue:
In this entire scenario, it is quite pertinent to mention the cases of princely states Junagadh and Hyderabad. As per independence act of 1947 and Lord Mountbatten’s plan of 3rd June, Muslim and Hindu majority areas were to be included in Pakistan and India respectively, whereas princely states rulers were given the choice either to be a part of Pakistan, India or choose to remain independent.
The Muslim ruler of princely state Junagadh, Mr. Nawab Muhabat Khan had to face the same scenario like that of Maharaja Hari Singh in Kashmir. Mr. Nawab Muhabat Khan announced Junagadh’s accession to Pakistan on 15 August 1947. However, it was forcefully included in India through Indian invasion. Now here again, India presents and has to present the entire scenario in sugar coated words that somehow support Indian position. Indian writers present that “people of state organized a popular movement and a group Junadahi people forced the Nawab to flee”. If we remain restricted to the rules and regulations of partition, how could India even think of Junagadh when its ruler had already announced accession to Pakistan without any pressure. Similarly, in case of princely state Hyderabad, Nizam Mir Osman Ali, the ruler of Muslim dominant state, wanted Hyderabad to be independent of India. He entered into a standstill agreement with India for this. In violation of the agreement and partition act, Indian army invaded Hyderabad on 13th September 1948 and overthrew the ruler and got the state annexed with India forcefully. Indian history calls it “operation polo”. Where from one perspective of the picture, (Indian) human eye sees it as an act of valor and assistance of Indian army, there the other side of the picture calls Indian army “invader/attacker”, just like they say about Pashtun Tribesmen when they entered Kashmir to support their Kashmiri Muslim brothers. Now here Indian writers, scholars, historian present Nizam as a “tyrannical ruler” (just like Pakistani historian call Hari Singh tyrannical and biased) to support their stance and operation polo.
Regardless to the doubts about righteousness of Indian actions in case of Junagadh and Hyderabad, a simple question that pops up in mind is that if India can violate the clauses of Indian Independence Act 1947 and 3rd June plan of Lord Mountbatten and get Junagadh and Hyderabad to be a part of India either by hook or by crook, why Kashmiris cannot be given their fundamental right to decide about their future in accordance with their own will? Ok, let’s not call it Indian violation. Let’s agree to the point that India just wanted to protect and assist the inhabitants of Junagadh and Hyderabad and entered in the best interest of the people of the states, then the same right should also be given to Kashmiris. They do not demand for something for which historians will have to use sugar coated words in order to protect their stance and the ego of their country. They just demand their right of fair and honest plebiscite and independence.
Regardless to protect the ego of our countries, we Pakistanis and Indians should think to protect the right of Kashmiris. The rulers of both countries, the writers, historians are playing with words for their own interest, supporting their stances with sugar coated words. Before it becomes the part of Pakistan or India, Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris first. Let it be. Let them decide. It will be in benefit not only of Kashmiris but for the entire region. Let the peace begin.
Well, certainly there is no second opinion that we ought to get rid of this curse. This five letter word, dowry has hindered dreams of happily married life of innumerable lasses of the society. The complete code of life, Islam, nowhere endorses the idea of dowry. The concept of dowry typically relates of Hinduism where girls were not given any share in inheritance. If we study about marriage ceremony of Hazrat Fatima, the dearest daughter of Holy Prophet SAW, we nowhere come across that Holy Prophet PBUH specially managed to arrange something for his dearest daughter in the name of dowry, as it is prevailing these days.
extravagance. And mind it, gifting something also nowhere permits you to exploit parents of a girl to spend millions in the name of this so-called-gift – dowry. So parents of boys who take the shelter “apni beiti ko he gift dena hai, hamain thori kuch dena” (parents will gift their daughter not us) are nowhere permitted to take the undue benefit of this phenomenon. Neither they have any right to comment (read: taunt) if parents of girl gift (or don’t gift) anything to her nor they are rightful to demand anything in the name of dowry. Rather it is the responsibility of the boy marrying the girl to manage their sources of living. So, whether you are on the side of “stopping jahezkhori” or a proponent of “stopping demanding well settled larka”, let’s come out of this filthy status quo mindset and mend our respective ends. After all, it takes two to get it right.
In today’s world, where depression and despair is spread all around, it is not easy to remain focused and positive in every walk of life. Qasim Ali Shah, has cracked this nut stupendously. Mr. Shah is a world recognized motivational speaker, trainer, writer and educator. His instinctive capability of twining positivity and motivation in human thought process through his motivational talks and discussions make him distinctive among others. To date he has made more than five hundred videos and has written assortment of articles in his various books helping humanity in unleashing optimistic and sanguine thought process. He has trained thousands of people including government officials, CSP officers, employees of multinationals and students. He is also running an organization, Qasim Ali Shah Foundation, with an aim to spread intellect and wisdom in the society. Today Us is delighted to have a chit chat session with him.
Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA), member body of IFAC, organized its second series of quarterly conferences on 16, 19 and 26 October at Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi respectively. The conferences, based on the theme “leading from the front”, were attended by a large number of business professionals, consultants and trainers employed in public practice, industry, and in the private sector. A good number of students also appeared in and got benefited from the events held in key cities of the 
country.
working place. The attendees, specially young students, were charmed and motivated in member success story session by Mr. Farhan Dilawar, Chief Internal Auditor of Punjab Model Bazaar Management Company Industries, Commerce and Investment Department of Government of the Punjab. Mr. Sheikh advised students to remain focused to achieve their targets and for this he suggested to be friends with a routine of writing diary.
return of income tax, there benefits of being filer also attract their attention. Karachi conference, therefore, brought to light significance of being a filer and spread awareness about it. Mr. Haider Imam, member of Karachi Tax Bar and Pakistan Institute of Public Finance Accountants, stated that latest amendments in income tax ordinance / finance act attempt to take in loop more and more number of persons to enhance tax circle. He further added that once one gets registered (filer) under Income Tax Ordinance, percentage of tax imposed in different financial transactions, that pertain to routine life, drops considerably resulting positive impacts on one’s pocket. In the end Mr. Amjad Hussain Durrani, Chief Internal Auditor of Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation Karachi proposed vote of thanks to the guest of honor and all 
other visitors. The visitors benefited thoroughly from his insightful and balanced analysis over scope of internal auditing in various organizations.
At the end of the conference, guests of honor were awarded shields and certificates were distributed among newly qualified members. The quarterly conferences concluded with a hope that business education in Pakistan will remain updated with changing requirements of the era and young business professionals will play their role dedicatedly in bringing Pakistan out of the current financial crunch.
In the name of Humanity... 