AJK govt bans 16 books

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has banned the sale, purchase and exhibition of 16 books and booklets written or compiled by pro-independence people.

Two of them have been written by Mohammad Maqbool Butt, a guerilla leader hanged in New Delhi’s Tihar jail on Feb 11, 1984.

According to a handout issued on Monday, the books included Jammu Kashmir Book of Knowledge, Wounded Memory, Kashmiriyat-Part-I, Knowledge of Jammu and Kashmir-Question-Answers, Guide Map of Poonch Division and Map of Jammu and Kashmir State by Mohammad Saeed Asad; Kashmir and Partition of India and Masla Kashmir-Talkh Haqaiq by Dr Shabir Chaudhry; Srinagar Jail Se Farar Ki Kahani and Main Kon Hoon by Maqbool Butt; Kashmir Salateen Ke Ehad Main by Mohibullah Hassan; Maqbool Butt – the life and struggle by Shams Rehman; Masla Jammu wa Kashmir and Kashmir Tareekh Ke Aaina Main by Prof Mohammad Arif Khan; and Mirpur Par Jab Qayamat Toot Pari by Bal K. Gupta.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2016

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Imran Bajwa

Mar 08, 2016 06:59am

Now this is something interesting. Freedom of expression???

Recommend 0

Fawad

Mar 08, 2016 07:03am

So banning books by Pro Independence writers Pakistan shows that they also are against independence of Kashmir?!?!

Recommend 0

Vasan

Mar 08, 2016 07:09am

Probably printed copied are banned, or some books can be ceased from market. In the virtual digital world banning books not possible. People can read some where in the form of ebooks. I have never heard of this author, but would like to read what he wrote in the book. Everyone has a idea about history, would be interesting to read though.

Recommend 0

Prof Abdul Malik

Mar 08, 2016 07:14am

As a matter of principle I am totally absolutely against book bannings. People are the best judge of what is right and what is wrong. Let them be, let them be. Ultimately truth will prevail. Let it prevail.

Recommend 0

Mar 08, 2016 05:17pm

There is PPP Govt. in AJK, so all the questions would be asked to Zardari and Bilawal.

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