MINUSCULE KASHMIRI-SPEAKING PEOPLE IN PoK

New Delhi, 8 November 2005

New Delhi, November 9 (INFA): Some political undercurrents emanating from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are likely to influence the ongoing dialogue between New Delhi and Hurriyat Conference to resolve the Kashmir problem and confidence-building measures (CBMs) being currently initiated or negotiated between India and Pakistan. 

Firstly, the Prime Minister of the PoK, Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, has reportedly questioned the representative character of the Hurriyat Conference.  He believes that the Conference does not represent non-Kashmiri areas of the State.  He has refused to accept any decision for the State by one area, that is, the Valley, as no particular region can decide the future of the entire State as it stood before 1947.

Significantly, PoK leadership has for the first time asserted that its cultural identity is quite different from the Kashmiri-speaking Muslims of the State. It has now been highlighted by the PoK leadership that the occupied-Kashmir is a misnomer as it is entirely a non-Kashmiri-speaking population, Caste being the basis for differentiation. 

This assertion has been proved by the fact that the 48-member legislature of the PoK, described by some as PaK (Pakistan-administered Kashmir), has only two Kashmiri-speaking Muslims.  They too were elected from the reserved category meant for the minuscule Kashmiri-speaking population.

The Kashmiri-speaking population has migrated from the Valley across the Line of Control (LoC) at various time intervals. In fact, non-Kashmiri-speaking Muslims outnumbered Kashmiri-speaking Muslims in the undivided State of Jammu and Kashmir.  

In 1947, Sheikh Abdullah had the backing of the entire Kashmir Valley, but the leadership to the present day PoK was provided by the Saddhau tribe, which had proclaimed independence from the Dogra rule.  That, in fact, was the reason why the Saddhaus welcomed a part of the State’s accession to Pakistan.

It may be remembered in this context that Sheikh Abdullah formed a militia to fight the tribal raiders in the Kashmir Valley and opposed Pakistan for its aggression in his speech in the U.N. Security Council in 1948.---INFA

ANDHRA HIGH COURT’S GOLDEN JUBILEE

 Hyderabad, November 9 (INFA):  The Andhra Pradesh High Court will complete 50 years of its existence next year.  The Court was established in 1956 following the State Reorganisation Act and is one of the finest architectural edifices of the State’s Capital, Hyderabad.

The High Court building was constructed under the rule of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan.  The Court building plan was drawn up by Shakar Lal of Jaipur. A local engineer, Mehar Ali Fazal executed the design.

The construction of the building started in April, 1915 and completed in March 1919.---INFA