The Shehbaz Sharif government has recently come under fire for another controversial decision concerning the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of transferring the ownership of state properties—worth billions and located in various Pakistani cities since the Maharaja's era—to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government, a committee has been formed to sell these assets. This alarming move has raised concerns among political leaders, activists, and the general public of AJK, as it is not the first instance of such properties being sold.
The issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s state properties dates back to the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. After the independence of Pakistan, properties belonging to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir or the Raja of Poonch, located outside the state’s territorial boundaries, were placed under the administration of the AJK government. These assets are part of the contested legacy of the region, tied closely to the broader territorial and political disputes surrounding Jammu and Kashmir.
In the 1960s, the administration of these properties was further complicated by the *Jammu and Kashmir Property Administration Ordinance of 1961*. Under this ordinance, the management of these valuable properties was taken away from the AJK government and handed over to Pakistan’s federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs. Through the Administrator of Jammu and Kashmir State Property in Lahore, the ministry has been overseeing the administration of these assets ever since.
The latest notification by the Shehbaz Sharif government signals a clear intent to sell these properties instead of returning their control to the AJK government. This has sparked outrage, particularly as it comes at a time when many are advocating for the rights and autonomy of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The establishment of a committee to handle the sale of these properties appears to be a calculated move to generate revenue, but it disregards the rightful claims of the AJK government and its people.
The issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s state properties dates back to the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. After the independence of Pakistan, properties belonging to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir or the Raja of Poonch, located outside the state’s territorial boundaries, were placed under the administration of the AJK government. These assets are part of the contested legacy of the region, tied closely to the broader territorial and political disputes surrounding Jammu and Kashmir.
In the 1960s, the administration of these properties was further complicated by the *Jammu and Kashmir Property Administration Ordinance of 1961*. Under this ordinance, the management of these valuable properties was taken away from the AJK government and handed over to Pakistan’s federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs. Through the Administrator of Jammu and Kashmir State Property in Lahore, the ministry has been overseeing the administration of these assets ever since.
The latest notification by the Shehbaz Sharif government signals a clear intent to sell these properties instead of returning their control to the AJK government. This has sparked outrage, particularly as it comes at a time when many are advocating for the rights and autonomy of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The establishment of a committee to handle the sale of these properties appears to be a calculated move to generate revenue, but it disregards the rightful claims of the AJK government and its people.
شہباز شریف کا جموں وکشمیرکے باشندوں سے ایک اور بڑی واردات سامنے آ گئی۔
— Waheeda Jammu Kashmiri (@KashmiriWaheeda) September 6, 2024
مہاراجہ دور سے پاکستان کے مختلف شہروں میں موجود کھربوں مالیت کی جموں و کشمیر پراپرٹی آزاد جموں وکشمیر حکومت کے حوالے کرنے کی بجائے فروخت کرنے کیلئےکمیٹی قائم۔
1/5#AzadKashmir #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/xGhBwEWENg
What makes this situation even more concerning is the silence of the Anwar government, which has not taken any steps to oppose the sale. Critics argue that the government’s silence is driven by a desire to maintain political stability at the cost of ignoring significant property and human rights issues.
The controversy surrounding the sale of Jammu and Kashmir’s properties was initially brought to public attention by senior journalist Athar Masood Wani. Wani’s investigative report shed light on the history and current status of these state properties. According to his findings, the assets were originally intended to benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir and should rightfully fall under the administration of the AJK government. Wani’s work has since inspired political debate and calls for action, urging the AJK government, political parties, and civil society to stand up against this perceived injustice.
Despite these revelations, successive governments in Pakistan have continued to treat Jammu and Kashmir’s properties as an asset that can be liquidated rather than protected as part of the region’s contested heritage. The decision to sell the properties is seen by many as an attempt to further erode the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir while strengthening Pakistan’s control over the region’s valuable resources.
The latest notification has sparked calls from various quarters for the AJK government, political parties, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir to take immediate notice of this issue. There are growing demands for a thorough investigation into the sale of these properties and for the federal government to return their management to AJK authorities.
Human rights activists argue that the sale of these properties is yet another example of Pakistan’s exploitation of the region, using its political and administrative power to strip the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their rightful claims. As the debate continues, it is crucial for the international community to keep an eye on this issue and hold Pakistan accountable for respecting the rights and heritage of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
