MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Friday regretted that the culture of book writing and reading had almost diminished in the country which ought to be discouraged.

He was speaking at the launch of two booksMeezan-e-Zeestand ‘Azad Jammu Kashmir Constitution (in historical backdrop)’ authored by Syed Manzoor Hussain Gillani, former acting chief justice (CJ) of AJK supreme court.

“In our country, if someone ventures to write a book, he is rarely encouraged and appreciated, even though book writing is a laborious task, requiring considerable energy and resources,” the president said.

“And if the book does not get as muchacceptance as expected by the author, it gives him lot of stress. Nevertheless, Justice Gillani has authored not one but two valuable books for which he deserves rich commendation,” he added.

The president pointed out that in one book Mr Gillani had made the constitution an understandable document for the common man and had also facilitated the masses in understanding balance among the three state pillars i.e., judiciary, legislative and executive in terms of their rights and obligations.

“The book will certainly facilitate implementation and enforcement of constitution and law in the state and will help common man to have access to justice,” he said.

Commenting on the views expressed by one of the speakers on the occasion, Mr Khan explained that AJK was not liberated by the tribesmen from northwest of Pakistan but by the local inhabitants who had directly fought the Dogra Army.

“However, after liberation, the tribal people did help us foil Indian attempts to recapture Azad Kashmir,” he said.

Organised by the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK), the book launching ceremony was also addressed by AJK Supreme Court CJ Chaudhry Mohammad Ibrahim Zia, AJK High Court CJ M. Tabassum Aftab Alvi, UAJK Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Kalim Abbasi, former federal minister Dr Zafarullah Khan, prominent scholars Ahmed Javed, Dr Abdul Karim, Syed Arif Bahar, Jawad Jaffri and others.

The speakers eulogised Mr Gillani for bringing up competitive studies of political evolution in both AJK and India-held Kashmir, different important verdicts of AJK judiciary, state’s concerns with Pakistan and other relevant issues.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2019