Azad Kashmir’s Political Chessboard: Analysing Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq’s 'Al-Jihad' Slogans
By Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan, Tr. New Age Islam
Translated from Urdu by New Age Islam
21 January 2025
In A Region Marred By Symbolic Leadership, Corruption, and Extremist Rhetoric, the Plight of Ordinary Kashmiris Remains Overshadowed By Political Manipulation and Slogans of Jihad
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In Azad Kashmir, the positions of President and Prime Minister are merely symbolic, and they do not hold any significant authority. Allegations of corruption and nepotism are often levelled against the Prime Minister within the same assembly, a vote of no confidence takes place, and the motion of no confidence succeeds, transferring power to another individual. A few months later, within the same assembly, the previous Prime Minister is re-elected through another vote of no confidence, despite facing accusations of corruption and nepotism. The voters are the same, but the vote is manipulated by someone else.
In Azad Kashmir, the government is typically formed by the party that is either aligned with or shares a similar ideology to the ruling party in Islamabad. At one point, the Muslim League in Azad Kashmir considered the Muslim Conference as its allied party. When the Muslim League came to power in Pakistan, the Muslim Conference would form the government in Azad Kashmir. During General Musharraf's era, the Muslim Conference began to regard military democracy as the best system, and in doing so, lost its affinity with the Muslim League. This led to the formation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Azad Kashmir.
After ruling for several decades, the Muslim Conference has been reduced to a party with influence only in its traditional constituencies. During General Zia-ul-Haq's era, Brigadier Hayat Khan came to power, and in General Musharraf's time, General Anwar became President. Similarly, when the Pakistan People's Party came to power in Pakistan, the People's Party of Azad Kashmir also came to power there. When PTI formed a government in Pakistan, it established its own PTI in Azad Kashmir, where it previously had no presence, and took control. After the downfall of Imran Khan’s government, PTI Azad Kashmir also became divided and lost power.
Azad Kashmir has a total of 53 seats, with a proposal to add four more. Of these, 33 seats are for the general population, 12 are for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan, which are directly elected, 5 seats are reserved for women, and there is one seat each for religious scholars, overseas Kashmiris, and technocrats. In total, there are 53 seats. The majority of the seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan usually go to the party that is in power in Pakistan. The reserved seats are also allocated to preferred individuals, even if they have a history of affiliation with groups like the Taliban. After the formation of a government, it is rare for a member not to be appointed as a minister.
The Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, stands out as unique in that, despite the ousting of PTI’s Qayyum Niazi and Tanveer Ilyas, and the subsequent fragmentation of PTI into various factions, all PTI factions, along with the PML-N, PPP, Muslim Conference, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party, and other parties, voted to make him Prime Minister.
Many members stated that they were instructed to vote for him, so they had no choice but to comply. For the past 77 years, those occupying the corridors of power have done nothing but blindly obey their masters. While the Azad Kashmir Assembly is called a Legislative Assembly, it lacks the authority to legislate. In Azad Kashmir, political parties are formed and dissolved based on personal preferences and dislikes.
Currently, there are murmurs of a no-confidence motion against the incumbent Prime Minister, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, and plans are reportedly underway to revive the dormant Muslim Conference. Is this why Chaudhry Anwarul Haq seems to be having bouts of “al-jihad, al-jihad,” to appease his masters and avoid being ousted from power? Or is there a new operation in the works, similar to Operation Tupac launched in Kashmir during the 1980s? Perhaps this is a continuation of Operation Tupac, now being accelerated.
It is estimated that 150,000 to 200,000 people lost their lives in Kashmir as a result of Operation Tupac. Under the pretext of ending this jihad and terrorism, the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked, and it was turned into a Union Territory. Ladakh was also separated from Jammu and Kashmir and made a distinct Union Territory.
When armed fighters from here cross over, the response will inevitably be met with weapons. Kashmiri followers of Sufi Islam, once renowned for their humanism and hospitality, are now labelled as terrorists, even though the majority of Kashmiris still believe in humanity and human values.
While India and Pakistan control different parts of Kashmir, it is the Kashmiris who suffer the most. They are not allowed to travel within their own state or meet their loved ones, having been forcibly divided since 1947. Kashmiris on both sides of the so-called Line of Control are victims of religious extremism and terrorism. The ruling elite and powerful forces often use religion as a tool to achieve their goals and divert public attention from their real issues.
The broken, dilapidated roads of Azad Kashmir are a slap in the face of the system that Chaudhry Anwarul Haq is a part of. People are now raising funds on their own to build roads, hospitals, bridges, parks, and water schemes. It is utterly shameful that billions of rupees are allocated annually in the development budget, and if we consider nearly eight decades, this 4,000-square-mile region could have seen significant progress.
In addition to the development budget, millions of Kashmiris living abroad send billions of dollars in remittances, which should be spent on the welfare and development of the people. Instead, the Kashmiris who are fundraising to build basic infrastructure are, in a way, enabling this corrupt system and the incompetent rulers imposed on them.
Rather than raising funds, Kashmiris should demand accountability from these inept rulers, asking where the billions of rupees allocated in the development budget have gone. Why are the claims of progress you make during your foreign visits not visible on the ground?
While there is no doubt about the sincerity and intentions of those raising funds to build roads, they may not realize that money is also withdrawn from the budget under the pretext of these very projects.
The foul-smelling hospitals of Azad Kashmir, where medicines are scarce, and the dire state of educational institutions is so severe that the majority of graduates and master’s degree holders cannot even write a proper application. The alarming rise in bribery, unemployment, lawlessness, nepotism, corruption, religious hatred, and extremism, coupled with banned organizations openly parading weapons, is deeply concerning.
These ceremonial rulers, during their foreign tours, shamelessly claim that Azad Kashmir has transformed into the Switzerland of Asia. The 21st century is the era of information and technology, yet local residents continue to suffer from a lack of basic facilities. Broken roads, rusted school roofs, goats roaming in hospitals, and the absence of bridges over rivers and streams force children to use a single iron wire to cross and reach school. Images and videos of these struggles shared online expose the ground realities, debunking their lofty claims of progress.
These ornamental rulers use religion as a weapon to mask their incompetence and divert attention from the pressing issues of the people. They issue fatwas of disbelief, treason, and betrayal against secular, liberal Kashmiris and freedom advocates while occasionally resorting to slogans of "al-Jihad, al-Jihad" to serve their own agendas.
After Chaudhry Anwarul Haq's chants of "al-Jihad, al-Jihad," some people on social media are debating whether the state has declared Jihad, questioning how anyone can refuse it. To them, we ask: which state? What state? Azad Kashmir is effectively governed by four Pakistani officers: the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Auditor General, and Secretary of Health. These are the real rulers here. The Azad Kashmir government operates under the authority of the Chief Secretary. No Kashmiri can attain these positions of power.
Why doesn’t the military, with over 700,000 personnel and an annual budget of thousands of billions of rupees, undertake the sacred duty of Jihad themselves? They have the training, expertise, weapons, and resources for it. Why are our innocent children sent to face India’s massive and well-trained army instead?
It’s worth considering that at the Wagah Border, Pakistanis and Indians gather daily to enjoy music, perform ceremonial dances, and exchange salutes. They gift each other mangoes, Gulab Jamun, Rasgullas, Jalebi, and other sweets. There is peace on this international border—no one goes for Jihad from there. Instead, they trade with each other, which is a positive development.
We advocate for trade, peace, and freedom of movement across the entire region, modelled after the European Union. Kashmiris in the divided state of Jammu and Kashmir should be granted the freedom to travel and trade freely. Yet, within this region, particularly in Azad Kashmir, the focus remains on "al-Jihad, al-Jihad" and playing the game of terrorism.
In Azad Kashmir, the unchecked activities of extremists are drawing the attention of global powers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Israel, and France. There is a growing fear that under the pretext of eradicating terrorism, our region might become a battleground of destruction.
Kashmiris must question these so-called Jihadists and their backers about the reality of their claims. Since 1988, they assert that Jihad has been ongoing in Srinagar, yet not a single child of a prominent Jihadi leader or military officer has attained martyrdom. Why is that? The majority of their children are studying in prestigious institutions both domestically and abroad. After completing their education, they secure high-ranking government positions, drawing hefty salaries and enjoying privileges. Meanwhile, it is only the children of the poor who are sent to fight.
If not the children, then why haven’t any of these Jihadi leaders or officers themselves attained martyrdom? This glaring disparity should prompt Kashmiris to confront them at every corner and crossroads. Those inciting youth in the name of Jihad owe answers to these critical questions.
This slavery, unemployment, substandard wheat and flour, counterfeit medicines, adulterated milk, cooking oil, and rotten fruits and vegetables being sold at exorbitant prices, along with lawlessness, religious hatred, and terrorism, are not our destiny. Instead, they are the outcomes of the corrupt and biased system imposed upon us. These puppet rulers and their masters use religion as a tool to mask their failures and incompetence while sowing discord among the people.
If a significant portion of Kashmiris were not employed abroad, our people would have perished from a lack of education, food, medicine, and clean water.
The time has come to launch a united campaign, both nationally and internationally, against extremists and those who spread religious hatred. We must declare that this game of fire and destruction must end. How long will India and Pakistan continue to purchase arms, fostering hatred and poverty? The forced division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir must cease, so families separated for 77 years can reunite. The game of "al-Jihad al-Jihad" and "al-Qitaal al-Qitaal" must now come to an end.
The campaign to remove billboards, advertisements, and posters featuring women's images in Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, and the threats to traders, along with the chants of al-Jihad in Muzaffarabad, are interlinked events aimed at inciting youth towards another wave of so-called jihad.
Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq’s call for al-Jihad was likely advised by someone who deemed it a clever move. However, neither does he possess the authority to make such proclamations, nor are such emotional slogans and statements permissible. What he and his masters may have overlooked is that their videos and the footage of those standing alongside them are being watched worldwide and scrutinized seriously.
Inciting the youth of Azad Kashmir towards violence and al-Jihad will make them, along with their advisors and patrons, accountable to the international community.
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