QUETTA:Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) commemorated the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan by conducting an In-House seminar on Sunday.
The event was themed on the Emergence of Pakistan: Inglorious Role of Britain in the Partition of Colonial India. It was moderated by Mr. Aadersh Hamza Malghani, Associate Director while the speakers of the event included Brig Agha Ahmad Gul (R), Dr. Anwar Khan & Mr. Ajmal Khan.
Brig Gul spoke on the British perceptions built over some 450 years of their slow conquest of India that the India’s Rulers had been the Muslims and they had to keep them suppressed. Even their offensive aimed at subduing Afghanistan in 1843 and then in 1879 was against the Muslims who gave them tough fights.
He said that the British had also crushed some 650 years old Muslim Ottoman Empire in 1918 and ensured that Political Islam does not get revived by not letting King Abdul Aziz become the new Calif saying that the British were thus highly averse to the Creation of Pakistan.
He said, that the Colonial Viceroy Mountbatten announced Partition Plan on 3 June 1947, giving only 40 days for creation of a new country, while the British Act passed by the Parliament had allowed time up to August 1948.
Mountbatten, conniving with Hindu India was expecting Pakistan to fail and rejoin India in matter of days or months, which did not happen due to the steely will of the Quaid a Azam, and the people. The Viceroy clearly was siding with India in all his decisions, such as breaking up two Muslim Majority Tehsils in East Punjab to open up land access to Kashmir to India, not allowing transfer of assets, no central Bank, no currency, no factories, no army, leaving undecided the issues of territory in the south Rann of Kacch and Kashmir as well as share of Rivers Water, he underlined.
He said that almost all of our present day issues were originally created by the Colonial Viceroy, who not only become the 1st Governor General of India but also became an adversary of Pakistan, protecting Indian interests.
He added that the Hindu Indian Congress convinced the British to illegally occupy Kashmir for which even the Muslim Majority Tehsils of East Punjab were acceded to Hindu India. Hindus abhor non-Hindu and consider them filthy, dirty and impure. The viceroy violated the Independence Act and dishonestly helped India to occupy Kashmir. It was totally against the rules made in London by UK Parliament, he maintained.
Brig Gul also spoke on the Kalat States’ accession with Pakistan. He also highlighted that historically Kalat was a Princely State which according to the Independence Act had to join one of the Two New Dominions, depending upon Contiguity and Religion. Federation of Kalat States had no other option. Accordingly, all four States acceded to Pakistan in last week of March 1948. Similarly, the British Balochistan, was asked to hold a Referendum. The un-elected Members of Shahi Durbar and Quetta
Municipality quite naturally, unanimously opted to join Pakistan, he noted.
Dr Anwar khan, while highlighting the Gilgit Baltistan issue and Creation of Pakistan, said that Gilgit Baltistan is of a great strategic importance. Knowing the importance of this region, the growing Tsarist Russian presence, and fearing a possible Russian invasion from Central Asia; the British intervened and created Gilgit Agency in 1877 in order to bring the area under their control. This marked the beginning of British Dogra rule in Gilgit.
However, uprisings began against the Maharaja’s rule in different parts of Kashmir. A never seen Instrument of Accession was announced by the Maharaja on October 27, 1947, joining Kashmir. This too was against the British Act of Independence, but dishonestly, the Viceroy sided with Hindu India.
The Gilgit Scouts, who had already formed a Revolutionary Council, initiated a revolt against Dogra rule, and the areas surrounding Gilgit were liberated from Dogra, and independent state was announced on 1st November 1947. After 15 days of independent state, Gilgit acceded to Pakistan unconditionally.
The hope of the local people in 1947 that they would join the Pakistani federation as a province, as other regions of the country, still awaited, and the full-fledged province is meaninglessly awaiting a plebiscite by the UN on India’s Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOK) Part. The plebiscite stood held as the people of Kashmir have been perpetually agitating against Indian Rule. This is enough of Plebiscite.
Mr. Ajmal Khan in his talk highlighted the circumstances which necessitated the Referendum in the NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and whether there was a need for it. He highlighted the role of the then NWFP in the freedom movement and political dynamics of the province.
He highlighted that the third June plan was agreed upon by the Congress and Muslim League- envisaged a referendum in NWFP to determine which constituent assembly the province will join. Mainstream uprising in favor of Pakistan gave swing to Congress leadership and it lost its grounds to the urban Muslim League.
While concluding the seminar, Brig Gul emphasized that to commemorate our 75th Independence Day, it is not enough to wave the flag, wear pins and consider ourselves lucky not being under the English or the Hindu India yoke. The BJP’s extremist Hindutva ideology, which Muslim elders foresaw in 1928 has become visible against the erstwhile lies of Secularism.
This Independence Day must be celebrated with realization that many forces and odds worked against Pakistan’s creation but Pakistan still was created and surviving in spite of the maladies acts of our enemies.
This Day should be celebrated with a steely will as that of our Elders, to fight all enemies of Pakistan at every forum, make it a secure, prosperous, tolerant and true welfare Muslim State of which the founding Fathers can be proud of.