[Opinion] The case for rehabilitation of Salmanabad

by Abbas Ali

It is a time testing situation for the people of Attabad Hunza and its surrounding villages of Sarat, Salmanabad, Ayeenabad, Sishkat and Gulmit because all of them have been, directly or indirectly, affected by the recent unfortunate incidents of land sliding and resulted blockage of Hunza river.

The catastrophe of land sliding has taken 21 lives, 180 families (2500 people) have become displaced in Attabad, Sarat and Salman Abad. If the water level keeps on raising almost 400 families (5000 people) of Ainabad, Shishkat and Gulmit will also be displaced.

Immediately after the land sliding people from Salmanabad were shifted to camps of displaced people in order to avoid any risk because Salmanabad is the immediate adjacent village to Attabad. Another factor for moving them to the camps was the danger to the suspension bridge that links Attabad, Sarat and Salmanabad with the Karakuram Highway, as the only connection for these three villages with the rest of the Hunza and world.

However, there is another possible linkage for Salmabad with the rest of Hunza, also considered less risky, ‘the old silk route’ which was operational till a decade ago but due to lack of maintenance that part of historic silk route is non-functional now.

The suspension bridge at Sarat is in danger not only because of the recent land sliding of Attabad but is always at risk of heavy winds and continuous land sliding. At the same time it is relatively a very long route for the people of Attabad, Salmanabad and Sarat to go to Hunza. It is for this reason that the people of these three villages and Ahmadabad jointly developed a scheme to link with the rest of Hunza through a jeep- able road between Ahmadabad and Salmanabad.

The jeep-able road between Salmanabad and Ahmedabad was a joint venture of Gilgit-Baltistan government, AKRSP and the local community, where local community has provided land and services, while GB government and AKRSP were responsible for funds and technical assistance. Unfortunately after spending more than half a million rupees on construction of this route both AKRSP and GB government pulled backed and did not fund the program and leaving it half completed.

The people of Salmanabad and Ahmadabad have put their efforts to blast the rocks, putting their lives in danger,  to construct the road with the hope that it will ease their lives by an easy and safe access with the rest of Hunza and world. However, the stoppage of funds by the said institutions has drowned the dreams of the people of the area as well as wasted more than half a million rupees as more than four years have passed but there is no plan to initiate working on that road.

Importance of Ahmadabad to Salmanabad road is becoming more crucial as after the survey of the affected areas of Attabad, Sarat and Salamanabad the geologists have declared that Salmadabad is safe and has no immediate danger due to the land sliding in Attabad. However, 50 family and almost 400 people of Salmanabad are forced to live in camps away from their homes and lands because there is a possible danger for the suspension bridge in Sarat which is the sole link for Salamabad with the rest of Hunza.

Therefore it is highly crucial for the safe resettlement of the people of Salmanabad in their homes that work on this route shall be started again, on emergency basis, without any further delay.

The other important facilities the people of Salmabad would need immediately are a middle school and a health center because these facilities were previously located in Sarat which is the central place for Salmanabad, Sarat and Attabad. Because of the land sliding Sarat has been severally affected and it has been declared dangerous place to live.

The government of Gilgit-Baltistan/Pakistan and other responsible institutions are therefore asked to immediately complete first the link road from Ahmadabad to Salmanabad, second construct and run health center, third a middle school.

The writer is a graduate of AKU – ISMC. He can be reached at abbas.alyy@gmail.com

This article was published in PT, January 12, 2010

Op – Ed: Awakening of Gilgit – Baltistan (A response to N N Khattak)

by Abbas Ali

N N Khan Khattak has touched upon a very sensitive matter, discussing the hidden hands behind the current surge in the political movements of Gilgit-Baltistan. He has tried to present in a very convincing way that people other than residents of Gilgit-Baltistan are behind the increasing protests regarding violation of basic human rights in Gilgit-Baltistan over a very long time of 60 years. He has tried to link all political movements which have consciously started to take initiative against oppression and exploitation in all areas of life economic, social, political and human rights.

Let’s suppose that RAW is behind the Balawaristan National Front of Hameed and Naji groups and they are active in the area on the behest of Indian desires to destabilize Pakistani interest. Mr. Khattak did not bother to discuss how RAW has got this golden opportunity, if any, to exploit these groups against Pakistani interests. Let’s explore some of the many answers to this basic question but very important ones.

First, History of Gilgit-Baltistan is one among few unique histories in the nations of the world we are living.  After the courageous people of these mountain desserts had won their independence from Dogra Raj in October 31, 1947, they voluntarily joined the than Pakistan of Quid – e – Azam.  A Pakistan, which was based on two nations theory and destined to become a democratic republic, according to the wishes of its great founders.  However, unfortunately the founder of Pakistan died under mysterious circumstances. Soon after the Quid-e-Azam, Pakistan’s first Prime Minister was brutally assassinated while he was addressing with his nation, at the very same place where very recently one of Pakistan’s most revered ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto was heinously killed.  From Liaquat Ali Khan to Benazir Bhutto there are many hidden and open sinister chapters in the history of Pakistan, including separation of a significantly Muslim dominated East Pakistan, political murder of Z.Bhutto, Zia’s marshal law and all the latest incidents.  All these cases of corruption, murder and breaching constitution are not big deals in Pakistan, it seems. If people of Gilgit-Baltistan could have perceived such a deceptive trajectory of Pakistan, from the ways of the founding fathers, they would never have made the mistake of affiliating themselves with Pakistan, on rational grounds.

Second important issue is the brutal treatment of Gilgit-Baltistan by the Pakistani governing bodies. Let’s count what Gilgit-Baltistan has gained over a long history of six decades.  Chronologically the first one is Karakorum High Way (KKH). But why did Pakistan bothered to build KKH? Was it for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan or for the vested interests of Pakistan, herself? It does not require lengthy arguments and answer for this question is very simple. Building KKH was necessary for Pakistan’s survival, because of its dependency on China for all its strategic and military support. With all its tall promises USA has abandoned Pakistan in times of need, such as  in its War with Indian keeping Pakistan with open eyes  waiting for Naval Station, following it Pakistan divided into two. For the survival of the rest, it was only China who has graciously extended a helping hand while Pakistan was facing hostility from its two other immediate neighbors Afghanistan and Indian.  Thus, it was a mere compulsion of Pakistan to build KKH and people of Gilgit-Baltistan incidentally happened to be on this road. It is all, thanks to be the neighbors of China, that people of Gilgit-Baltistan have got KKH otherwise they may still have been suffering, without any link with outer world.

Since then it is not possible to count any major projects which have benefited people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Till recently there was only one degree college in the area, while knowledge hungry youth of Gilgit-Baltistan were suffering discriminatory approaches in the Universities of Pakistan. They still do so because the Karakuram International University (KIU) is still in its infancy, without any proper recognition of its academic standards.

In the entire civilized world there is not a single country where a non-elected person from an alien region controls and heads an elected assembly. But this shameful thing is happening in the Gilgit-Baltistan under the eyes and noses of the Pakistani governing bodies, where a person, most often either from Punjab or NWFP heads the elected representatives of Gilgit-Baltistan in the so called Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA). The chairman of NALA (Minister for Kashmire and NA affairs) is not answerable at any level to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

There is no lack of resources for the development of Gilgit-Baltistan in the region; one of the abundantly available resources is water that could generate much needed electricity not only enough for Gilgit-Baltistan rather it could be heavily exported to other regions as well. But still people of Gilgit-Baltistan consume less than 5 Watts Average power per capita. In rest of Pakistan this average is 48 and the world average is 297. It is not, in anyways, different from the case of Sui gas, which has been used all over Pakistan but not in the villages closest to Sui. The local Sardars, including Bugti, were blamed for under development of Baluchistan but what about Gilgit-Baltistan, there are no Jagirdars (Land Lord) here. Not individuals but state policies keep the people deprived, alienated and oppressed.

Average literacy rate is below 20% in the Gilgit-Baltistan, if we exclude the 85% literacy rate in Hunza because of AKDN’s initiative the average literacy rate of Gilgit-Baltistan will further slid down.  Female literacy rate is hardly 7%, again a shameful position. The same worst kind of situation can be seen in all components of the ‘Human Development Indicators (HID); the standard measurement scale of development, introduced by UNDP. People of the area are living in a disgraceful poverty; almost half of 1.5 million inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan live below poverty line.

Given this state of affairs, after 60 years of its independence and affiliation with the Islamic Republic, what options are the people of Gilgit-Baltistan left with other than raising voices for independence and freedom of political, economic and social oppression? Why Mr. Khattak and people like him want the people of Gilgit-Baltistan suffer humiliation and disgrace while the world around them is enjoying fruits of prosperity, development and freedom.  It would be very much intelligent for Mr. Khattak and people like him to think of what Pakistani governing bodies have done with the people of Gilgit-Pakistan over the long 6 decades of its history other than, humiliating by denying them the basic human rights of democratically elected representatives, honorable food, clothing and housing, electricity and education. What people of the area have got in abundance was the sectarian and ethnic bloodshed of their own people, which has brought to the Gilgit-Baltistan by the heinous powers in order to suppress a united struggle for the rights; otherwise people of Gilgit-Baltistan lived together peacefully and lovingly with each other for centuries.  Why do you need RAW, MOSSAD, KGB or CIA in a situation like this, they do not need to be bothered. People of Gilgit-Baltistan have all their sympathies with all Pakistani brothers and sisters who are also suffering the worst of their lives under their atrocious governments.

One thing which is most important to remember is the awakening of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, who’s brave and courageous ancestors are buried in the historic ‘Chinar Bagh’, the monument of the independence of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is logical to assume that the martyrs, who laid down their lives for independence of Gilgit-Baltistan, did not do so to see their future generations suffering perennially. It is now time for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to struggle for their basic human rights. Certainly now the struggles of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan will never die unheard because they have sacrificed a lot to attain the most important power of pen and ink, which cannot be snatched from them no matter how brutal, the oppressor might be.

 The Writer is a student of Muslim Cultures at the, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations (ISMC)- Aga Khan University, London

This article was published in PT, September 11, 2008

[Opinion] SHANDY SCHOOL OF THOUGHT: Political and intellectual venture of Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan

by Abbas Ali

Globalization has changed dramatically the lives of people almost in every corner of the world. One of the most significant features of globalization is increased level of freedom of movements for ideas, human beings, and objects. The people of Hunza (Kilick to Mayun) are also trying to take and contribute as much as possible in this fast changing trend of globalization. Every year thousands of people migrate from Hunza to the rest of the world to achieve various objectives, among them most prominent being economic and education. Majority of these migrants settle down in various cities of Pakistan while a small portion, which is rapidly increasing in size, settles in Western world. Along with their brothers and sisters in Hunza, diaspora of Hunza in other countries, particularly in the Western world is trying to contribute enthusiastically for the development of the region. The above notion is truer for the Hunzukutz living in UK.

In London, a noticeable number of Huzukutz arrived and started to settle since early 1970s, but it was not a continuous process. A continuous stream of flow has started since late 1990s and many Hunzukutuz came to Europe and UK for the purpose of education and a few for employment purpose. But many of those who came to study preferred to stay in London particularly those who are self-financed because London offers more attractive financial benefits and an excellent environment for growth as compared to the homeland. Given this situation currently there is a cohesive community of more than 80 individuals from Hunza in UK. In the year 2008 alone, eight students from Hunza came to London on scholarships after been successful at international level competitions. It is important to recognize that most of the scholarships have been provided by the various AKDN institutions, for which we are all very grateful.

This flow of people from Hunza to the West is not only a simple movement of people rather its impacts on the society of Hunza could be felt very strongly. It is to be recognized that most of the people who came to UK belong to the highly competitive educated youth of Hunza who by living in UK or returning back to Hunza could influence the trajectories on which the society is moving ahead. Although in general terms it is considered to be brain drain but it is also a ‘brain gain’ for Hunza, because the opportunity to study and work in UK gives access to new ideas and openings which could be replicated in Hunza, according to local context. It has also created new opportunities and financial gains for the people of Hunza which could, in turn, help to strengthen the economy and society at large. Some of these students have access to training in some of the best institutions in the world, in the fields of social scienceses such as cultures, politics, diplomacy, religion, development and economics, while a few are either engineers or Chartered Accountants, they all try to reflect on their own society back in Hunza. Some of the students are highly impressed by Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Marx, Adam Smith, Hegel and Kant, while other keep Voltaire, Foucault, Habermas, Amartya Sen and Muhammad Yunus in high esteem, still some are highly impressed with the Quranic studies, Muslims Philosophers of medieval centuries, such as Al-Farabi, Al-Ghazali and Mulana Rumi and some are influenced by a combination of these and more schools of thoughts.

Among these western educated youth of Hunza there is diversity of opinions and thoughts, there are those who favor socialism, democracy, a paternal dictatorship, and rule by consensus; and those who are staunch supporters of traditions. Among many things which come under discussions are the impacts of globalization, modernity and the role of traditional values in society. Whatever school of thought Hunzukutz living in UK and West belong to, their ultimate goal is the development of Hunza, their motherland. Many of these Hunzukutz are prospective intellectuals of Hunza, so to say the future brain of Hunza, whom we need to take very seriously as in the coming years they will be having their followings as specialists or experts in their respective fields.

We know that some of the intellectuals belong to the older generation have already impacted people in Hunza to name a few Dr. Najeeb ullah Najeeb, Dr. Faqeer Muhammad, Dr. Jan-e-Alam Khaki and Ghulam Abbas all of them Western educated at some points of their lives. Some of them have positive perception in the minds of the majority of Hunzukutz and others may not have, depending where one stands on the foot scale. Thus the growing intellectuals of Hunzukutz could also not be restricted from influencing the society either people want it or not, it is an unavoidable process to continue. Let us see, what are some of the few important areas which are important for the Western educated intellectual youth of Hunza in the contemporary globalized world?

The discussions that happen at 37 Shandy street London, which is an important place for the lot of Hunzukutz (Kilic to Mayoun) who are settled in Europe or are frequent travelers to Europe, particularly to UK., revolve around Hunza (Kilic to Mayoun). These discussions also apply to debates on Gilgit-Baltistan. It is observed, seen and experimented that more or less there is a broader level of consensus, with minor difference, on many issues regarding yesterday, today and tomorrow of Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan. I have called these thoughts of Hunzukutz affiliated with 37 Shady Street, ‘Shandy School of Thought’.

The main features of these thoughts are fair governance; basic political, Economic and social rights; equal opportunities for all; justice; Individual and Common Progress; and rule of ethical Values as a way forward and indiscriminate implementation of rule of law. The expressions of these main themes are following:

a)         Hunza is a territorial unit from Kilic to Mayoun, with respect for cultural diversities of Wakhi, Brusahshki, Shina and other languages and ethnic groups. Equal opportunities should be given to everybody without any discrimination.

b) Hunza is geographically located in a very important strategic location; it remained an independent state till 1972, it is important to utilize its importance to get the peoples basic rights which have been still denied to them.

c) A strong brotherly partnership particularly with Nagar valley and generally with Gilgit-Baltistan is highly important for the sustainable development for all.

History is always a good school to refer for learning but not to replicate it. Thus it needs to accept historical unequal treatment across the board in the region, it does not happen because of any natural and inherited differences among the various sections of society rather on the basis of the constructed power relationships where might was almost always right. A tiny minority of organized people have exploited the vast majority of Hunzukutz.

It is important to recognize that all Hunzukutz are equal in terms of access to opportunities available such as social, economic, political, cultural or religious. None is to be preferred over others, equal opportunities of freedom to access the opportunities must be provided to anybody.

People should have chances of growth based on their skills, knowledge and education not on the basis of family, clan, ethnic and geographical affiliations. No one whoever he/she is more important than the other except on the basis of his personal characteristics.

Corruption and unequal treatment of its citizens by the state institutions and existing representatives need to be rooted out, for which civil society organization needs to play a stronger role. In this regard the initiative of Hunza Development Forum (HDF) may play a vital role. It is to be taken seriously that the state institutions do not operate fairly always so a strong civil society has to play its role as a watchdog and enforce accountability and transparency.

The representative political institutions need to be strengthened over the administrative setup and foreign impositions of politically unrepresentative powers. In the existing political situation the position of Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) needs to be strengthened which is in its current situation a toothless tiger.

One of the most important things is to purge any sought of dividing factors of the unity of the Hunzuktuz (Brushu, Wakhi and Shin) by any element either religious pirs or political pundits. The Pirs and Pundits have recently tried to create such an ugly situation with the politics of blame games and conspiracy theories by involving our honorable Jamati institutions to hide their ills and dodge the innocent ones, playing along the ethnic lines, thus it is to be prevented.

Unity is important for common good with individual efforts for progress. It means freedom of choice must be available to everyone with equal access to information to decide regarding one’s life without any discrimination of gender, clan, geographic or ethnic background. Voluntary partnerships need to be encouraged as a source of resource pooling to enhance effectiveness and efficient utilization of resources as well as increased bargaining powers.

Practical pluralism must be promoted at leadership level; it should not become rhetoric to gain power and to be politically right rather it should be the hallmark of all institutions. It means representation of all diverse thoughts groups of regional communities in the power structure, not a hegemonic leadership of those nearer to power circle as is in the existing situation. Leading institutions have to set examples for the masses of its pluralistic characteristics because a contradiction in action and words will dilute the institutional integrity and will disenchant the masses.

Ethical values of honesty, justice, fairness, truth, helping each other, respect for elders, care for weak, and love for children which are cornerstones of traditions of Hunza must be kept upright as guiding principles for the progress of both material and metaphysical lives. These are universally recognized ethical grounds, by living up to them Hunzukutz will gain respect and honor at any time and any place on earth. This will indeed help to achieve human good in terms of material progress as well as metaphysical development in a ‘win, win’ situation with the rest of the world.

One could see the changing perspectives of the intellectual youth and leadership of Hunza over time. The main features are a clear and strong sense of identity affiliated with Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan. Since independence of Gilgit-Baltistan in November 1, 1947 we can count four generations of Hunzukutz, who experienced and were convinced with various trends in order to direct the society. The contemporary, fourth generation, is different from all of the previous three generations. It is neither Pakistan centered as was the first generation of military trained leadership of first generation, neither have the Pakistani patriotism on false hopes as the leadership of second generation who were trained by Pakistani administration, and completely different from Al-Jamhor, third generation’s communist ideology. The views of independent minded and well educated fourth generation of youth of Hunza is towards the democratic socialism as it exists in much of fast progressing contemporary world.

Looking at the history of intellectual movements in Hunza it could be confidently said that the current intellectual wave of ‘Shandy School of Thought’ would be able to have long lasting impacts. Some of the reasons are legitimate and a clear understanding of the current issues which will appeal to a major spectrum of society. The ‘Shandy School of thought’ is neither anti religion (as was Al-Jamhor) nor it is anti traditions rather it values both traditions and religion as two most important components of social structures of the societies, this approach will gain respect from both traditionists and religious people. ‘Shandy School of thought’, is neither in favor of blind patriotism nor hatred anti-patriotism, it’s simple goal is to gain basic political, social and human rights as universally accepted and recognized birthrights of each person on earth. So it is a rationale and appealing for wider society. Shandy School of Thought is not state’s military centered, attracted by individual military medals with little room for popular political and intellectual freedom and autonomy, thus it has attraction for the existing lot of independent minded educated youth, whose number is multiplying and it provides a huge base of followers. Shandy School of thought does not believe on terrorism for political gains rather it condemns manifestation of terrorism in all its shape either state sponsored or non-state elements both are curses. The ideological parameters of Shandy School of Thought are deeply rooted in knowledge and reason in a global context which have been attained through struggle and a painful process of discerning the reality and theory made possible by globalization.

Thus ‘Shandy School of Thought’, is based on basic human values encompassing political, economic, social, religious and moral goodness. Although its roots rests in the global meta narratives of modernity with universal application but it is a little narrative of the post-modernity in the post-colonial and post-cold war globalized world, in the local context of Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan. This endeavor of promoting thoughts of humanism enabled by the process of globalization, Hunzukutz would not only gain they will contribute as well towards wellbeing of universal human values. People might not see any physical existence of this endeavor; however this would permeate in the society like soul in the body, invisible but unavoidable for life.

The writer is Alumni of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations (ISMC), Aga Khan University (International) London, UK.

This article was published in PT, October 10, 2010

Opinion: Who shall lead us?

By: Abbas Ali

It is a fact that the existing supposedly legislatively body of Gilgit-Baltistan, which is named as ‘Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA), is an ambiguous and powerless caricature without the real authority to represent the people of this area. However, people could not turn their back from any political activity that is happening in the area. In this regard the upcoming election which will be held in 2009 is very important for the people to participate in and elect political leaders who should have the much needed political acumen, courage, skills, knowledge, wisdom and readiness to serve the people of the area rather than filling up their own coffer with booties of corruption and exploitation of the minimal powers rested in them.

In the past, with respect to Hunza, we have experienced three faces on the political scene as members of NALA. The first one and the most notable is Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, who has been able to get elected again and again over a long period of time by the people of Hunza because of his ancestral role as Mirs of the Hunza. People across the Hunza valley have considered him capable to provide good governance and progressive vision as he grew up and benefited from the statecraft from his father and people surrounded him as a prince. The strategic importance of Hunza has provided his ancestors valued positions among other Mirs of Gilgit-Baltistan and they have been able to developed influential relationships with the people of power in the neighboring regions and Pakistan. However, time tested experiences prove that Ghzanfar has not been able to utilize his influence to benefit the people of Hunza at all except acquiring some privileges at a minimal level for himself.  

 People of Hunza are disappointed with Ghzanfar for his weaker position in relation to his wife Ms. Atiqa, who is considered to call herself illegitimately ‘Rani of Hunza’ and has least interest in the development of the people of Hunza. Ghazanfar is considered to have lack of wisdom, political acumen because of it he has not been able to serve the people of Hunza. With the passage of time and with experience in politics instead of learning and becoming stronger he has become weaker and weaker in the hands of his wife and, currently his sons. In fact he is nothing more than a puppet for which he himself most often repents in public and private. Recently the Sost Dry Port case has pinned the last nail in his political coffin because of corruption of more than Rs. 70 million by his son, the biggest corruption case in the history of Gilgit-Baltistan, including fraud case of Rs. 50 million with the State Bank of Pakistan under the Chairmanship of Ghazanfar. Over a nine years long period of influence he subjugated the rights of poor people of Hunza, who had invested their hard earned money in the dry port with the hopes to have some income for the food, education and health care of their children and families. Ghazanfar and his family used this money for their own personal lavish life, is a strong case that he cannot be a morally and legally capable to be a fair representative any more.

Ghazanfar, is the Chief Executive of NALA during the current term, but he failed to do any considerable good at least for his own constituency of Hunza, leave alone Gilgit-Baltistan. There are two major issues pending for long as demands of the people of Hunza and Ghzanfar promised every time to meet these demands, firstly two seats for Hunza in NALA as it is for Nagar, secondly making Hunza and Nagar a separate district from Gilgit. Althugh a separate district for Nagar and Hunza was announced by President Musharaf but Ghazanfar has not been able to materialize it until now. In short people of Hunza have abandoned Gahzanfar this time for ever and for good, if he dare to contest election his defeat is very obvious.

The two of previously elected representatives  Nazir Sabir and Wazir Baig both unfortunately have not been able to come up to the expectations of the people of Hunza. Both of them have been elected once but bitter experience of both in term of their lack of visionary leadership, inability to mobilize masses and failing to attract and initiate development projects severely disappointed people of Hunza. Although both of them would have their own excuses and blames for the circumstances they found themselves, but a leader is to be expected to face challenges and meet the desires and needs of the people at a certain level of satisfaction. They both were failed and people had rejected them for a second term and it seems would not rely on them in future elections.

In existing situation it is very difficult to get the due rights and funds from the Government of Pakistan because Gilgit-Baltistan does not have any political influence in the power centers of Islamabad and is being treated as a step child.  The question arises, on whom people of Hunza can count to provide a visionary leadership and fight for the rights of the Hunza in particular and for Gilgit-Baltistan in general.

The land of Hunza is very fertile and its people have always achieved what they have set as a goal with hard work, dedication and honesty. When it is claimed that Hunza is one of the most educated regions in the whole south Asia, what does it mean? Of course, Hunza has a pool of competent human capital. It is recognized that the people of Hunza have played important roles in a wide variety of professional capacities and businesses in the region but did not opted for politics because in past it was not considered as an important and common concern by the people. However, with increased level of education and awareness people are giving due importance to politics which need to be strengthened and promoted, this awareness have raised many competent politician in Hunza who could meet the current challenges in a far better manner.

Here I would like to highlight some names for the forthcoming elections, which are discussed in the circles of political thinkers and interest groups of Hunza as potential candidates for the upcoming elections. It would be highly important for the educated and politically interested people of Hunza to look at each of these potential candidates and may be others as well and bring forward their opinions so that it could provide a sound basis for electing a right person for a progressive change in Hunza. The names are Afsar Jan,  Qurban Jan, Noor Muhammad, Hoor Shah, Wajid Ullah Baig, Sultan Madad, Advocate Ahsan, Aman Ullah Khan and Baba Jan.  Yes the three previously elected personalities could also be discussed and how they could fit into the current scenario.

Now it is a time for every educated youth of Hunza to discuss and discern the ultimate source of a real progressive change through politics. History as well as presents tells us that in fact political policies are   the real forces which organizes and directs the societies either towards ultimate heights of success or the depths of backwardness.  We could take examples of countries of the West in Europe and US who have emphasized on strengthening their political systems on the right footings are the prosperous nations. The same way, countries which are progressing fast in the developed world today such as China, Brazil and India have set their political direction right but those which are poor and in crises are, in fact, politically failed states, although they have all other required ingredients for development and prosperity. In Hunza as well as in the whole region of Gilgit-Baltistan, if we would not be able to set our political direction in the right way nothing could help us to be self-sustainable and developed. Thus, now it is a high time to give due priority to set the right political direction and it could be proven as first step by electing a right candidate in the upcoming election who could serve the people of Hunza.

This article was published in PT on January 9, 2009

Conferenece resolution at UK’s house of Lords seeks self –determination rights for Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir

London - A meeting was held at the House of Lords, Uk, chaired by Lord Nazir Ahmed and Lord Eric Avebury and attended by Lord Bill Mckenzie, Kelvin Hopkins MP, Marsha Sing MP, in order to impress upon the political establishment of India and Pakistan the right of self-determination for people of the disputed regions of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The meeting was attended by prominent political scholars and politicians from South-Asian Diasporas in Britain. In the light of a major shift in the US foreign policy under the Obama presidency, particularly towards the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, it is emphasized upon the US and European political community to leverage their influence on both India and Pakistan to involve people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir in any kind of political process that is affecting the people of these areas.

Mr. Abbas Ali, from Gilgit-Baltistan, participated in the meeting and highlighted importance of self-determination for the people of the Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir according to the will of the people of the area. He said that the disputed regions of South Asia are under post-colonial colonization.  He emphasized that under the UN resolutions and Geneva convention rights of self determination should be granted to the people of this region. He asked  UN member states to compels both India and Pakistan to provide a genuine choice of self-determination, not a plebiscite or forced control on the people of the area. 

It was suggested that Lord Nazir Ahmed, Lord Eric Avebury , other Members of Parliaments of Great Britain and participants of the meeting will write to president Obama a letter to appoint a special representative for the resolution of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan dispute.  Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan is the only dangerously flashing point between nuclear armed countries of India and Pakistan that caused three wars and the most recent one is Kargil war. The meeting concluded with passing of a resolutions focusing on an immediate peaceful settlement of the Kahsmir and Gilgit-Baltistan stressing on self-determination.”

Published in PT

Opinion – Editorial: AKDN’s role in Hunza

By: Abbas Ali

The engagement of AKDN in development process of Hunza can be traced back to the late 1940s, when it started its program to educate people of Hunza by opening up schools and offering scholarship grants for the region’s youth. The pace of development during that phase, because of the scale of AKDN’s engagement, remained slow and basic. However, since early 1980s Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has intensified its activities in the region, covering a large spectrum of development initiatives at socio-economic and cultural fronts. AKDN has worked as a conduit for arrival of millions of dollars in this beautiful but poverty stricken region where people have lived for centuries in subsistence socio-economic conditions. 

Since AKDN’s intensification of its activities the people of this area have experienced positive and progressive shifts in their living conditions during a short span of 20 years. Today, Hunza can proudly boost about over eighty percent literacy rate, low child and maternal mortality rate, control of Malaria, Hepatitis and many other rampant dieses, because of the services and strategies employed by different agencies of AKDN. The agricultural production per capita has increased many folds due to the initiatives of AKRSP through introduction of technologies, construction of water channels, introduction of new seeds, creating awareness, giving education and training to the poor farmers which they had never ever thought of before. The increased income has been rightly invested by the people of Hunza, motivated by their great leader His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, to educate their children both girls and boys.

Establishment of women organizations (WOs) and Village Organization (VOs) served multiple purposes, at one hand where these grass root community groups have been able first time ever in their history to save and invest millions of rupees for their common benefits. On the other hand, these groups enabled the member of community to create political awareness regarding their rights,  responsibilities a and provided a strong political platforms to discuss their issues and problems and put forth in front of government and other NGOs or in case of inter village based political and economic issues. These processes have created leaders at gross roots level.

Surprisingly, as in recent comments regarding the polls, someone named Durbeesh, (which may not be his/her real name but if so, an act of cowardice approaches or he may not be confident of his ideas or feel shame in his own-self about the ideas he is talking about) blames AKDN for depoliticizing the society of Hunza and creating a leadership vacuum.  He tries to talk with a Marxist language in terms of classes in society and sometimes talking about religious affiliation of the AKDN with Ismaili community. 

Mr. Durbeesh, perhaps, wants to put in practice the ideals of Marx in the society of Hunza, which he may have studied in pure theoretical senses of ideas. The said person does not seem to be familiar with the cultural, political and economic context in which the great Karl Marx had produced his ideas. In terms of religion when Marx is quoted saying that religion is opium of masses. Why did he say that? The idea was established against Christian Orthodoxy, where poor people were told by the church that they will get reward of oppression in this world, in life hereafter (in heaven), if they would disengage themselves from worldly and material well being. 

Economically the classes based society was under ruthless capitalism of industrial Europe, where rich were getting richer and poor were getting poorer was the main cause of Marx concern.  At the same time economy was base for Marx the most important factor in human life, while culture, politics and religion as super structure.  For Marx, labour was mother of all cultures, and intellectual engagement was only possible when there is surplus economic production to feed those who are involved in non-productive intellectual activities, such as politician, students, intellectuals and teacher etc. These all ideas of Marx were based on his experience and study of the Western industrialized world of his time. He has not studied Islam at par with other religions such as Christianity and Judaism, neither he have been to Subcontinent, China, and vast world of Africa. We should have to keep these things in mind when trying to universalize Marxist ideology and so called leftist notions.

Let us now talk about AKDN. Doesn’t AKDN ask everyone in the community to do their best in the society in all material senses? Doesn’t AKDN ask poor communities to improve their economic conditions as one of its top most objectives? Doesn’t AKDN provide an enabling environment for the poverty stricken people at the bottom of social and economic classes?

Through helping people to create additional income and increased economic means AKDN has enabled societies it is serving to create economic surplus that is why today more than any other region of Pakistan, proportionately, people from Hunza are studying in all major universities of Pakistan – me and Durbeesh are in a positions to write and talk about the issues, economics, and society without being involved in physical productive labour.

It is important to remember that AKDN is not a political entity. Neither is its purpose is to push a political movement nor to suppress one. AKDN is to serve marginalized and disadvantaged groups of the society for creation of an enabling social environment for the people to grow.

Nevertheless, it is also important to realize that without basic education, people can not talk about their fundamental human rights in more effective manners. Are not schools the breeding ground for people who bring about social changes?

We cannot deny that the Hunza of today is more politically vibrant, dynamic and energetic than it was ever in the recorded history; our leadership is relatively more educated, aware and strong than it was 20 years back. The choice awareness of competent political leadership that we have today was never ever before.

No doubt that there is always a lot of room for improvement and we the people of Hunza will make that necessary improvement in years to come. Let’s shunt those pessimists and disoriented people and we should be thankful to AKDN for creating role models of development based on universal and Islamic ethical values of justice, brotherhood, alleviation of poverty and equal distribution of resources in a meritocratic society. 

This article was published in PT on 13 Feb. 2009 

Resistance to Bhasha dam

By Abbas Ali
Sunday, 07 Feb, 2010 | 12:47 AM PST |

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PAKISTAN is currently facing acute shortage of water including reduced outflow of water from Tarbela Dam which is adversely affecting the agriculture sector. According to experts’ estimates, shortage during the Rabi crop could go up to 35 to 40 per cent.

People are already facing worst ever high prices of flour, rice and sugar which are the basic necessities of the population including 35 per cent extreme poor who can hardly afford to buy them. Experts say that in order to overcome the shortage of water the requirement is to build a Tarbela-type dam (world’s largest rock filled dam) after every seven years. But since 1976, the year Tarbela dam was built, Pakistan has not been able to construct even a single major dam due to political discord among the provinces over Kalabagh dam and lack of visionary leadership.

Musharaf regime opted to build Bhasha dam considering it less contentious than other five dams as part of ‘water vision 2025’, to overcome the issue of water and power shortage when its hope to seek consensus on Kalabagh Dam diminished. Diamer-Bhasha dam is designed to possess tremendous capacity to produce much needed electricity and provide water; it will have 12 power generating units with a capacity of 375 MW in a year and expected to produce 19,000 GWH. It will be the highest roller-compacted dam in the world with a height of 272 M.

Its gross capacity will be 7.3 million acre feet (MAF). It is located about 120 km downstream of its confluence with the Gilgit River in the Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan. The cost of the project is estimated to be over $12 billion. The dam could significantly help overcome power shortage and meet the long standing need for a water reservoir for irrigation purpose. Federal minister for water and power Raja Pervez Ashraf said on January 4 that “work on Diamer-Bhasha dam will begin this year and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had given assurance of financing the project”.

However, Bhasha dam, which was later named Diamer-Bhasha Dam to appease the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, is not free from contentions. It seems that the political elite who have been exploiting Pakistan for more than six decades are again going to make a big mistake and the dam may not be materialised.

The reason is that the regime has for long been ignoring and undermining the rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan simply because they have shown strong resistance to the proposed dam for it will submerge long tracks of scarce agricultural land in Diamer District where food security has already become a major issue. Secondly, it will displace more than 80,000 people of Gilgit-Baltistan and their future status has not yet been decided. And, there is no agreement yet on compensation plans. Thirdly, the adverse implications of the dam on socio-environmental conditions of Gilgit-Baltisatn have already been acknowledged internationally. Fourthly, the construction work would draw large numbers of outsiders to Gilgit-Baltistan while under the ‘state subject rule’ outsiders are not allowed to settle in the disputed regions. Fifthly, the proposed site of the dam, according to the experts, is located in the sensitive seismic zone, and any earthquake of the scale that struck Azad Kashmir in 2005 would be disastrous for the entire region.

The fundamental issues are location of the dam and rights of royalty. Construction of the dam will inundate and displace the people only in the Gilgit-Baltistan, while the power turbines are said to be located in the NWFP in the region of Kohistan, Bhasha. However, the ownership and boundary demarcation is disputed and the people of Gilgit-Baltisatn historically have a claim over Bhasha but the government of Pakistan’s unilateral declaration of Bhasha being part of the NWFP is igniting anger.

In the eyes of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan it is a conspiracy to deprive them of the royalty of the Dam. While water available from the reservoir on the one hand will inundate thousands of acres of land in Gilgit-Baltistan, it will, on the other hand, not provide water for a single acre in the region and all water will go downstream in Pakistan. Although it is announced that the royalty will be shared but the NWFP government has already decided not to share the amount of royalty with Gilgit-Baltistan.

The dam is fiercely opposed by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and the decision of Economic Coordination Council of Pakistan and recent announcement by Raja Pervez Ashraf to build the Bhash Dam has come as a shock to them. They have long standing reservations over the issue for they have been condemned to six decades of deprivations and alienations by the successive governments in Pakistan. People of the GB have no say in the affairs relating to governance of the region and have, therefore, raised the issue at international forums.

The World Bank has already declined to provide much needed funds and another major investor, China, has also reportedly refused to fund this dam. If the World Bank, which represents the western powers, and China, one of the most potential investors in Pakistan, are unwilling to fund the construction of the dam, it would be hard to find any other multilateral organisation willing to provide assistance. It seems the project will suffer the same fate as did the Kalabagh Dam.

There is a growing opposition to the dam at international level. India’s opposition is understandable for according to the UN the area of Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed region between Pakistan and India. But the federal minster for information and also Governor of the GB Mr Qamaruzzaman Kaira says that ‘not a single voice was raised by the people of the Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan) against this project (Diamer-Bhasha Dam)’, in response to a question of an activist of Gilgit-Baltistan.

If the government and the political elite of the country are serious about the dam, they must first decide the fate of Bhasha which historically belongs to Gilgit-Baltistan. This is the major hurdle in the way of the construction of the dam. If Bhasha goes to Gilgit-Baltistan the construction would become easier because it will automatically resolve the second major issue of dispute over royalty. The royalty then will go to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who would be uprooted because of the construction of the dam. Thirdly, government should chalk out a clear and transparent resettlement plan for the 80,000 displaced people, and compensation be arranged for the tracks of land which would be inundated.

If the political elite of Pakistan can appreciate concerns of the people, then the problems like these may not arise. What Pakistan needs is electricity and water. By solving the contentious issues of border demarcation, royalty, resettlement and compensation plan, regarding Diamer-Bhasha Dam and treating Gilgit-Baltistan with dignity which it deserves, Pakistan can overcome several problems.