Beerwah, June 29: Contrary to the official claims of upgrading the education infrastructure, Government High School, Utligam, Beerwah in district Budgam presents a grim picture with around 450 students studying in three classrooms.
Fourty years have passed since the school was established, but three rooms is all what the school has in the name of infrastructure, not to speak of facilities like a computer lab, play field, laboratory and a library.
The school has four rooms- one is used as office while the rest serve as classrooms for 450 students.
The local residents complained we have in past raised the issue with the concerned authorities, but to no avail.
Abdul Rahim Bhat, who was recently elected as Sarpanch of the village, said the villagers jointly contributed 40 kanals of land for the school on their own, but authorities failed to construct a good building.
“It seems they are not interested to improve the infrastructure of the school building. We are very much worried about the future of our children,” Bhat said.
He said most of the people in the village are below poverty line. “We cannot send our children to high standard private schools where every kind of facility is available.”
The students accused the government of ruining their future.
“We have to suffer a lot in the classrooms. The rooms are overcrowded and we sit in the classes like cattle,” said Asma Jan, a class 9 student, adding that there are big rats roaming in the classes.
“We don’t even have proper classrooms. How can we seek a computer in the school? It is merely a dream. Government is deceiving poor students like us.”
The local residents are also worried about the non-availability of a headmaster in the school.
“There is no headmaster or principal in the school since December 2010.The earlier headmaster was close to his retirement age and he was busy in completing his documents and did not bother to address the problems of the students,” they alleged.
The local residents complained we have in past raised the issue with the concerned authorities, but to no avail.
Abdul Rahim Bhat, who was recently elected as Sarpanch of the village, said the villagers jointly contributed 40 kanals of land for the school on their own, but authorities failed to construct a good building.
“It seems they are not interested to improve the infrastructure of the school building. We are very much worried about the future of our children,” Bhat said.
He said most of the people in the village are below poverty line. “We cannot send our children to high standard private schools where every kind of facility is available.”
The students accused the government of ruining their future.
“We have to suffer a lot in the classrooms. The rooms are overcrowded and we sit in the classes like cattle,” said Asma Jan, a class 9 student, adding that there are big rats roaming in the classes.
“We don’t even have proper classrooms. How can we seek a computer in the school? It is merely a dream. Government is deceiving poor students like us.”
The local residents are also worried about the non-availability of a headmaster in the school.
“There is no headmaster or principal in the school since December 2010.The earlier headmaster was close to his retirement age and he was busy in completing his documents and did not bother to address the problems of the students,” they alleged.
It is a land and a people with a past, and perhaps a future – but with no present.
Welcome to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK): A virtual no-man’s-land, which will go to the polls this Sunday – but it is not quite clear what for.
A majority of (Azad) Kashmiris see the current political and constitutional status of the area as a joke. Most prominent among such residents of this area is Justice (retd) Manzoor Hussain Gillani, a former acting chief justice of AJK and its former chief election commissioner, who calls the current situation a “paradox”.
Identity(less)
This “paradox” has led to the systematic disenfranchisement of millions who live not only within its borders, on both sides of the LoC, but those who have migrated due to years and years of being in limbo.
Sixty-three years on, a UN-backed plebiscite is yet to take place, and AJK has stood in virtual limbo – as far from ‘Azad’ as can be possible. It is a territory that has been forced into a comatose state of identity-lessness.
Given that Pakistan does not want to ‘harm’ its claim over the rest of ‘occupied Kashmir’ by recognising the LoC as a legitimate border (which it does not, to-date), AJK has been governed by all sorts of strange and painfully euphemistic laws and acts. Azad Kashmiris, even those who want to join their land with Pakistan, cannot technically call themselves Pakistanis – but, by law, have to wait and swear that, when the time comes, they will say they want to join Pakistan.
Unlike other ‘autonomous’ areas under the purview of Pakistan, such as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), AJK is not even mentioned in the Constitution of Pakistan.
It is referred to in Article 1 (2)(d) as “such states and territories as are or may be included in Pakistan, whether by accession or otherwise.”
That’s it.
The AJK govt
For now, AJK is governed by an amended version of the Interim Constitution Act of Azad Jammu and Kashmir 1974. Under this Act, AJK is a parliamentary democracy, with the prime minister as the head of the government. It also has its own judicial system, with a High Court and a Supreme Court of AJK. Muzaffarabad is the capital of AJK and the seat of power.
It has a 49-seat Assembly, with 41 members elected directly – 29 by AJK residents and 12 by ‘Kashmiri Diaspora’ across Pakistan. Five seats are reserved for women, one for an Ulema, one for a technocrat and one for an overseas Kashmiri.
But the powers of the government and its legislative domain are next to negligible. One political activist, Afzal Solehria, described its powers as those of a “municipality”.
The real power lies above.
Kashmir’s constitutional system also has what is called ‘The AJK Council’ – which is effectively the supreme body of the land. The 14-member body controls almost all domains of legislation under the ‘Council Legislative List’ (see Box).
Strangely enough, its chairman is the Prime Minister – not of AJK, but of Pakistan. He elects five other members, who are sitting Parliamentarians of Pakistan. Other members include the President and Prime Minister of AJK, and six other indirectly elected members who are chosen by the AJK legislative assembly.
But, at the end, it is the Pakistani prime minister who exercises the executive power of the Council.
Above the council, completing AJK’s strange three-tier power structure, is, of course, the government of Pakistan, which has the final say on virtually everything – aside from the basic responsibilities of the Centre in any federal set-up – i.e. Defence, currency and foreign affairs (in AJK, the fourth untouchable central responsibility of Islamabad is “responsibilities of the government of Pakistan under UNCIP Resolutions”).
Limits of the AJK govt
The Interim Constitution Act 1974 is loaded with sweeping disclaimer clauses, such as Article 19:
“(2) The executive authority of the government [of AJK] shall be so exercised as:
“(a) not to impede or prejudice the responsibilities of the Government of Pakistan
“(b) to secure compliance with the laws made by the [AJK] Council.”
Also, because it is not a province, it does not have any intrinsic right to a share of revenue from Islamabad – even from massive power projects, such as Mangla Dam, that are set up on its territory by Pakistan. Justice Gillani points out that AJK is subject to all the liabilities (and more) of provinces, but has no rights and privileges.
The double-whammy is that the AJK cannot set up its own power projects, because it is not in the government’s domain.
To rub salt on its wounds, AJK’s most important bureaucratic positions – the chief secretary, chief secretary
(development), inspector general of police, accountant general, finance secretary and even the health secretary – are held by bureaucrats directly appointed by Pakistan from its own civil service.
(development), inspector general of police, accountant general, finance secretary and even the health secretary – are held by bureaucrats directly appointed by Pakistan from its own civil service.
In Sulehria’s words: “where exactly is the ‘Azad’ in ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’?”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2011.
Srinagar, June 13: Apart from its historicity, there is something peculiar that distinguishes the famed Islamia High School in Srinagar from rest of the educational institutions that have come up in Kashmir over the years. And that is the number of political leaders, scholars, academics and engineers it has produced since its establishment in 1866 AD.
Situated at Rajouri Kadal in the heart of Shahr-e-Khaas (Old City), the school has produced luminaries including the former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir like Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and GM Sadiq besides religious scholars like Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Shaheed Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Farooq. This is apart from scores of religious preachers, engineers and academics like Late Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, the first Registrar of then Jammu and Kashmir University, Dr Ali Jan, Muhammad Amin Chisti (former Registrar Kashmir University), Abdul Aziz Fazili (former Accountant General) and Noor-ul-Hasan (former Conservator Forests) who have taken lessons from this prestigious institution.The foundation of the institution was laid by the renowned religious scholar and preacher, Mirwaiz Moulvi Ghulam Rasool Shah, alongside the establishment of similar other institutions like the Darul-Uloom Deoband and Aligarh Muslim University.“It is believed that the great Islamic scholar, Jamal-ud-Din Afghani once visited Kashmir and met Moulvi Ghulam Rasool Shah. Since there was ignorance and poverty in Kashmir, Afghani had desired establishment of a religious institution like Islamia School on the grounds that education was the cure for all the ills. Since Moulvi Ghulam Rasool Shah was a man of great vision and intellect, he translated the idea into reality,” says Shams-ur-Rehman, Editor at the Anjuman-e-Nusratul Islam, whose founder president was Mirwaiz Moulvi Ghulam Rasool Shah, also known as “Sir Syed-e-Kashmir.”“The 100 years of its existence, barring a few years of turmoil, has been an extremely rich period wherein the different branches of Islamia High School gave rise to scores of scholars, academics and leaders,” says Rehman.The branches were established at places like Dalgate, Nowshehra, Rainawari, Bijbehara and Islamabad (Anantnag).According to a booklet, produced by the Anjuman, the Islamia Middle School was established in 1988 AD. “Alongside, a Darsgah was established to keep the people abreast with Quranic teachings and Shari’ah. The educational system became popular and attracted students from all corners of the state. The Islamia Middle School was upgraded to High School and 20 more schools were opened up in different parts of the Valley,” reads the booklet, edited by Er Muhammad Ibrahim Shah, present general secretary of the Anjuman. “The basic Darsgah bloomed into a full-fledged Islamia Oriental College by 1923 wherein besides Quranic education, studies in Moulvi Aalim, Moulvi Fazil, Munshi Alim and Munshi Fazil are being offered under the affiliation of Kashmir University and degrees awarded.”Taking to Greater Kashmir, Er Muhammad Ibrahim Shah said: “I retired as a chief engineer. The Islamia High School was a big institution those days where only boys would study. After 1947, the position of the school started deteriorating due to unfavourable and unfriendly treatment of the local governments.”Shah said efforts were made to get the name of the school changed. “But the Anjuman resisted it tooth and nail,” he said and added that late Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq made significant attempts to revive the institution. “Later when the school gutted in a devastating blaze in 2004, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who had taken reigns of the Anjuman, started revitalising the institution,” he said.According to observers, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah visited the school after 1975, asserting that he wanted to make a road connecting Jamia Masjid with the Islamia School. “It didn’t happen,” says Shah. “Then after the 2004 fire, Mufti Muhammad Syed also desired to have the same road and acquired some houses in the vicinity of the school for its expansion. But the proposal didn’t take-off.”In 2009, Anjuman applied for registration for degree courses before the state government. The issue, according to its officials, is not getting the nod allegedly for political reasons.Anwar Ashai, son of Khawaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, says the institution has produced stalwarts and should be revived. “My father did his Matric from Islamia School in 1910. He retired as Principal SP College in 1947 and then assumed the charge of then Registrar of Jammu and Kashmir University,” Anwar told Greater Kashmir, asserting that the institution was a “great place which educated many stalwarts.”The school intends to expand its Higher Secondary wing and also put in place a research library with printing and publishing facilities. But the Anjuman authorities believe it would be possible only with the active involvement of the civil society in general and the Old Boys of the institution in particular.“Islamia High School is a precious heritage. The new generation needs to be made aware of this. We have 20 to 25 percent of students in the school who are studying as a first generation. So therein lies the real contribution. We have to uplift the downtrodden,” says Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who heads the Anjuman. “Old students have to come forward and help the Anjuman to restore its glory. Finances we can raise, but the question is of manpower. Here our own people have to cooperate and come forward. The civil society has to contribute to the Anjuman.”Some of the Anjuman officials clearly plead that the state government should shun “neglecting the Islamia High School and cooperate in its expansion and progress.”“The government apathy towards the institution has to end. There is no point playing politics over education. The school imparts education to the downtrodden. And it is the responsibility of the government to cooperate in this endeavour,” says an official. “At the same time, people should send their wards to this institution which has been a torchbearer in spreading quality education to children.”
Srinagar, June 10: Police have filed FIR against London-based Kashmiri journalist, Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor, for opining her views on social networking site Facebook regarding the killing in Lal Chowk on June 6. Police said Nayeema, working with BBC, was ‘inciting violence on Facebook.’
The decision was made public soon after police claimed to have solved the Lal Chowk killing case by arresting three accused and recovered weapon of offence from them. They termed the killing as an “ordinary crime” pertaining to property dispute.
On June 6, an unidentified person shot a single bullet at Muhammad Afzal Khan, 55, near Pratap Park, Lal Chowk. Khan was a resident of Niharpora, Sopore.
“We have registered a case against a foreign based Kashmiri journalist for spreading disinformation on Facebook. She was spreading disaffection as she had claimed that the shooting at Lal Chowk on June 6 was carried out by the police,” Inspector General Police, Kashmir range, SM Sahai said during a press briefing at district police lines here. Asked to identify the journalist, he said she was the London-based BBC journalist Nayeema Ahmad Majoor.
The police have filed FIR under Section 66 IT in Kothibagh police station.
“She is inciting violence on Facebook,” Sahai told Greater Kashmir later. “It does not matter what platform she used. Geelani does not come out and pelt stones. He incites people for violence for which he is detained and charged,” he said.
While writing her views on Facebook on June 6 at 6:48 pm, Nayeema wrote, “Why did police kill this man in Lalchowk? any reason?”
Talking to KNS over phone from London, Mehjoor rejected police claims. “I didn’t blame police on Facebook, but quoted some media reports as why police will kill the businessman. Police should have looked into what I had written on Facebook and then reacted,” she said.
“As a journalist, I am working for peace,” she claimed.
It was the first time that police had gone after a high profile person for updating Facebook status which authorities feel spread “disaffection,” “incite violence,” or was “anti-establishment”. Earlier, separatist leader Shakeel Bakshi was detained after the police alleged he was spreading “anti-establishment” text on Facebook.
Meanwhile, police claimed to have detained three persons in connection with the Lal Chowk killing of June 6.
“The deceased Muhammad Afzal Khan was dealing with money lending on interest basis. A cheque of Rs 32,70,000 was recovered from his belongings,” Sahai said. “During the investigation, two persons identified as Farooq Ahmad Dar and Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray, both residents of Reban Sopore had a dispute over money transaction for a long time with the deceased”.
He said during investigation the two persons unravelled the conspiracy behind the murder.
“The day the incident occurred Farooq Ahmad Dar called Muhammad Afzal Khan on phone. He brought him to Srinagar for the encashment of this cheque given to him earlier by another accused Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray,” IG said.
“On the other hand Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray along with Shabir Ahmad Parray a resident of Hib Dangerpora Rafiabad and Lateef Ahmad who happens to be a released militant of HM came down to Srinagar in an Alto vehicle bearing registration number JK05A-5721. The car is owned by Parvaiz,” Sahai added.
Sahai claimed that Lateef was carrying a pistol as full fledged criminal conspiracy to kill Afzal was already hatched. “Farooq identified the deceased by walking alongside him. Parvaiz kept his car ready near Abi Guzer crossing. As soon the deceased along with Farooq Ahmad Dar reached near Pratap Park, Lateef and Shabir followed them. Lateef fired upon the deceased from a point blank range and ran away using the same Alto car,” he said.
“Three persons Farooq Ahmad Dar, Parvaiz Ahmad Tantray and Shabir Ahmad Parray have been arrested by police so far. Weapon of offence, a pistol, has also been recovered at their instance,” he added.
Sahai said the Lal Chowk incident cannot be taken as revival of militancy as was projected by certain section of media.
“It is not a militancy related case. It was a criminal conspiracy arising out of a land dispute in which a released militant was involved,” the IGP said.
He said involvement of released militants in criminal activities was worrisome. “It is leading to criminalization in the society which needs to be stopped,” Sahai said.
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, June 5: The finance experts have urged the government to reclaim State’s water resources from NHPC.
“Unfortunately, J&K has been converted into a market and we are caught in the dependency syndrome,” Nisar said while addressing a seminar titled “Management of Water Resources in JK and State’s Responsibility” organized by Jammu and Kashmir Citizens Welfare Council at SP Higher Secondary School.He said he had been recommending that any company interested in producing power should be charged with power production cess.
Srinagar, June 5: The finance experts have urged the government to reclaim State’s water resources from NHPC.
“Unfortunately, J&K has been converted into a market and we are caught in the dependency syndrome,” Nisar said while addressing a seminar titled “Management of Water Resources in JK and State’s Responsibility” organized by Jammu and Kashmir Citizens Welfare Council at SP Higher Secondary School.He said he had been recommending that any company interested in producing power should be charged with power production cess.
He demanded that the government should raise bar for 25 per cent royalty of the power projects under NHPC. “The civil society, government and the industrialists have taken a pledge to claim the return of State’s exploited water resources,” he said.
Former President Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCIK), Shakeel Qalander said they would launch a street campaign for return of State’s water resources. “We appreciate the efforts initiated by the government. But if it fails in its endeavor, we as a civil society, would launch a serious camping to regain our resources. And if the government succeeds, we will honour and felicitate it,” he said.
He said the then Maharaja Hari Singh had left behind State’s assets like Wular, Dal Lake and the rivers but all of them were exploited. “State’s rivers were shared by India and Pakistan under barter system without taking people of State into account. At the time of IWT, both J&K government and people were sleeping as their resources were being looted,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, senior Journalist Ved Bhasin and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was conducted by journalist and social activist Bashir Asad.
Former President Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCIK), Shakeel Qalander said they would launch a street campaign for return of State’s water resources. “We appreciate the efforts initiated by the government. But if it fails in its endeavor, we as a civil society, would launch a serious camping to regain our resources. And if the government succeeds, we will honour and felicitate it,” he said.
He said the then Maharaja Hari Singh had left behind State’s assets like Wular, Dal Lake and the rivers but all of them were exploited. “State’s rivers were shared by India and Pakistan under barter system without taking people of State into account. At the time of IWT, both J&K government and people were sleeping as their resources were being looted,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, senior Journalist Ved Bhasin and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami also spoke on the occasion. The seminar was conducted by journalist and social activist Bashir Asad.
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