Second Wakhi Mushaira by “Group of Friends” held in Gilgit

This is indeed an excellent step towards developing the Wakhi culture. Such events must be arranged from time to time by the individuals or group of friends……..

But this group has a long history of being friends and it was started when a group representing a political thought parted their ways from WATCA and arranged a programme in Gilgit Serena.

Now the same group is going to show concern over de-activation of WATCA….. Totally out of logic…. who are they going to blame and why….. The same were the people with WATCA….. Aren’t they…..

Anyhow we should discourage emerging organizations from the organization rather we should go for strengthening the organizations and bring a transparency……

We should not involve innocent people into such events for gaining our own interest…. It is being observed that some of the elements in the area particularly Gojal are trying to use institutions for politics or campaign of a particular group.

Where is my friend Ali Qurban’s picture?

Telling the truth is bitter, but it is better to tell the truth.

I agree with Mr. Karim’s comments [No. 1]. Some selective senior guys in the pictures, excluding the Mir-e Mahfil, had the responsiblity of WTCA Gilgit Unit such as Mr. Muhammad Aslam, Convenor; Mr. Riaz Ahmad, co-co-convenor; Mr Jami Sakhi, Secretary; Mr. Ali Qurban, Vice President of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of WTCA (from 1991-2001); Mrs Safida Ayub, a senior member of WTCA Gilgit Unit.

Now, if these guys have truly realized that WTCA has become inactive, it is a good move in their conscience that they have learnt lessons. I really appreciate this move, if it is postive as the report by Ali Ahmad suggests.

Thse guys now need to start reforms from themselves at individual and group levels, and then at unit level, of course. When they will do so, it would be a good precedence, indeed.

Although, I wasn’t there in this program, but I learnt through a recording that Rehan Shah of Ghulkin and Sultan Ahmad of Chipursan were of the opinion to form a separate forum and then to register it with the govement. I’m however grateful to those participants who showed their wisdom and disagreed rather rejected this idea.

We need to remember and understand that formation of a new organization is not a big deal, but to lead and sustain the organization with good governance such as a long vision, appropriate missions, honesty, sincerity, dedication, inclusiveness, selflessness, transparancy, accountability and the like are key issues which we have been evidencing in different organizaitons, esp when we talk about the CSOs. But if such forums are for some individuals’ personal gains and exploitation, then it is good.

If WTCA Gilgit Unit starts reformation process, it is very much appreciable. The WTCA’s CEC and other Units also must start reformation and re-organization of WTCA.

I agree with Karim [whom I don’t know and is not neccesarily to know] that when there was the program in 2004 in Gilgit, financial embazzlement was witnessed as there was no receipt system at all; but rather amazingly invitation cards were sold to the participants of more than one thousand for Rs. 100/-, 200/- and even more. Definitely this pre-planned invitation cards had no numbers and cannot be crosse checked. The forum used for this program was unfortunately WTCA Gilgit Unit later on a utopian organization with the name of WIRF (Wakhi International Research Forum) became part of it (Kabab me hadi. I am surpised what has been done so far through this forum for the Wakhi research which hasn’t got its roots amnong the stakeholders. In this progam with name of “Cultural Gathering 2004”, Mr. Qurban Jan, the then Secretray Finance, was the Chief Guest. He announced one hundred thousand rupees for this program and advised to go to him with an appropriate proposal.

Sultan Ahmad for WTCA GLT Unit and Azam Tajik for WIRF, having their experience in this regard, wrote two proposals and reportedly submitted to the Sec Finance. Interesting! What happened in the aftermath?
Later on, there came up two factions in drawing the money from the finance department. Azam Tajik and Rehan had a group for WIRF; Ali Qurban and Sultan Ahmad had a group for WTCA Gilgit Unit. Finally, the money acquired for and in this program (through donations and cards selling) was more than 200,000.

But what happened? WTCA Gilgit Unit crossed its given boundary and bypassed even the CEC. Until, now, Rehan Shah and Azam Tajik have not handed over the money (more than Rs. 50,000/-) in trust with them to WTCA in whose name the money was annonnced/released and raised. While there was Rs. 45,000 or so with Sultan Ahmad’s personal account. When there was the Wakhi Musha’ira Program in Murkhun in Jan 2007 in the house of Abuzar Ali, the evergreen president of WTCA after Mr. Ghulam ud Din, Ali Qurban and Sultan Ahmad somehow adjusted that money for this program by giving a cash of Rs.15,000/ to Mr. Muhammad Rahbar, Senior Vice President of WTCA, as the later was telling me; while they then brought a group of sound system from Gilgit (Ali Ahmad Jan of the National Music Center).

So, to whom it may concern? First, WTCA Gilgit Unit’s leadership; second, WTCA’s CEC leaderships who are accountable to the community of members. Ironically, no audit report so far has come up: neither in the CEC nor in the Units. Hard works, therefore, need to be done. There are many other points, but it is pointless at this time to mention them.

Conclusion:

When the issue of the Sost Dry Port came up, many of us wrote staunchly and bluntly against the bad governance. It was necessary because our communities had their stake in it. But I am surprised that WTCA is purely a communal and a non-profit organization; and when such sort of situations are also prevailing in this organization (WTCA), we are silent and hesitative to discuss such serious communal matters.

I had my late comments about the previous Musha’ira program in Sultan Ahmad’s house, If we are concerned about WTCA’s deactivation and under-performance, we must explore the reasons behind it. I tried (being involved with WTCA even before its formation) in the previous comment on this theme to come up up with the reasons affecting the WTCA’s performance and emergence of GECA and organiztion of such events. It could be seen therein (previous Musha’iras comments).

Recommendations:

Remorms and re-organization of WTCA may not come in the air but on the ground. For this purpose, the following recommendations are neccessary to be taken into accounts.

1). WTCA Gilgit Unit needs to call a meeting of all its members and present its legal audit and progress report to them.

2) CEC of WTCA must convene its general body meeting and bother themsleves in presenting the audit and progress reports.

3) Both CEC and the Units of WTCA must hand over the charge of leaderships to the respective youths who should spare their honest, visionary and dedicated professional skills and knowledge for this purpose.

4) WTCA’s CED and Gilgit Unit must be responsible and get accountabiity of the 2004 program “Cutltural Gathering” of Serina Hotel.
5) Byelaws of an organiztion are the body of laws whereby the organization is registers with the government and the respective members abide by the law/statutary. Those who misused their power or hijacked the forum must be held responsible and penalized.

We can at least learn lessons from the Lawyers Movement and the restoration of the Chief Justices of the SC and HCs of Pakistan against Musharaf and his cronies.

Finally, every one is equal to the laws, it is other thing we oursleves have exempted us from the laws and principles. Therefore, around the WTCA’s Byelaws, the reformations could be brought effectively.

Telling the truth is bitter, but it is better to tell the truth. But I hope that the matter may not be taken personal rather in the organizatioal perspective wherein some some persons for their personal gains and interests use organization and deame it. In ethical and legal perspective, it was necessary to say; but if someone is disheartened, I appologize ethically but not legally.

being a poet and singer i am missing the session i am thankfull to the managment for thier invitation sended to me i am sorry for not being there wonderfull job by the youngstars i always apperciade the efforts of thoes and the first initiater Mr Sultan Ahmed who came and always comming and giving thier precious time to entertain people this is fabulous job i hope this will continue in future i hope to join you in future…

Didar Karim
Rawalpindi

Dear all poets and Organizers

It really gives us immense pleasure to see our leaders arranging such magnificent gatherings which has always been the need of the time.the credit goes to the organizers and the poets for their valuable contribution in ideas, time and money which will really create as sense of unity among the people of the area and well help boost their creativity and Vision.

Poets are the ears and eyes, voices of a nation and providing them a platform to express their feeling, ideas and observation of the environment is to be highly appreciated. It is these platforms where on grows and gets encouragement to become better.

Lastly i would request from the organizers that if possible document these valuable poetries in the form of CDs and may be in the form of a booklet. Best of wishes for your furure endeavors

Sher Khan Rawalpindi

The Cultural Gathering of 2005 (not 2004) has now become a legend not for the fact that it was a historic gathering in Gilgit but mainly for the fact that it was sort of a tug of war between WTCA and the so called Wakhi International Research Forum (WIRF) and above all for some financial mishaps because of too much of trust on the team members who were involved in the program at that time. I had come to Gilgit in 2004 and after a short while went to Uganda for another job. Because of bad health, I had to return back and to my utter dismay, I could vividly observe a stalemate in the activities of our elders as well as youth in the hub of GB (the then NAs), as far as cultural and social activities are concerned. I met some of the seniors who turned to be mostly members and office bearers of the Gilgit Unit of WTCA. When the idea of a cultural gathering was shared with this group, they appreciated it and said that actually it was in the plan of WTCA since long but has never materialized because of many factors. So the story begins here (zhindage yark). Mr. Ali Qurban and I were employed in the same organization and we made a commitment that this program has to be made successful so that the youth gets a platform for further initiatives. I was not even member of WTCA and even today I am not but this was the passion that made me think that I should contribute something. At the final meeting for this program, Mr. Abuzar was also present and when we shared this idea he not only appreciated but also gave donation of Rs. 1000 while Ms. Safida donated Rs. 500 making the total of 1500, to begin with. In this way the blessing of WTCA central committee was with us. We started mobilizing the youth and were able to attract good number of them who played significant role in planning and execution of the program. We made different committees and kicked off the program. Our meetings continued in Khan’s restaurant and things were going in the right direction. We developed concept papers and also started working on the programmatic side, in close collaboration with the WTCA Gilgit unit. Then came Mr. Azam Tajik who shared his wonderful views about research work, annotated bibliography and what not. The team appreciated him a lot and he was given very important responsibility of mobilizing resources as well as convincing the people to attend this program. Other members of his team included Rehan Shah, Ali Sher, Nisar etc. So this team used to move around the town for distribution of cards and collection of donations while the program team mainly headed by myself was engaged in preparing the software side. I was told that when Azam’s team visited Fazal Amin Beg (FAB); there were some hot debates and tussles which had very bad impacts on our program I must say. This started a situation of lobbying however for us, the prime objective was to make the program successful. I can remember that on the last evening, when we were finalizing the rehearsal, FAB came to the meeting and it took us good three hours to ensure that the program is still valid for the next morning. Mr. Abuzar was ready with his speech and things were alright. The next morning when I went to Serena, Mr. Abuzar said that he needs to rush to Sost for some urgent work while the team of other members of WTCA from Gulmit did not come despite the fact we had received confirmation of their attendance. Any how this did not affect the program much and we were able to manage and entertain a gathering of around 700 people in the beautiful lawn of Serena. One of the things that really saddened me was the fact that a post evaluation report or critique was written by FAB and he submitted it to different people including Dr. Aziz Ali Najam, then VC of KIU and chief guest of the program. That report never came to us nor it was shared with us so that we could learn from that.

At the concluding ceremony Mr. Qurban Jan the then Secretary Health announced that if a proposal is submitted, he can sanction a grant of up to Rs. 100,000. So I developed a proposal in the name of WTCA and submitted the same to his office. ( I still have the copy of that proposal with me). Later on I was surprised to see that the sanction letter was in the name of WIRF. Mr. Azam then crossed all the ladders and has withdrawn the same amount without consulting any one in the team. Since we were volunteers, we could not monitor things every day. When we came to know this, me and Ali Qurban visited his office and confirmed that he has received the money. According to him, he was charged Rs. 20,000 by the issuing authority but we thought that is too much for an amount of Rs. 100000. So according to our estimates he got an amount of Rs. 90,000 from the government exchequer. Now let us go back to the story of cards and other donations. We had issued formats to the team in order for them to record each and every transaction. So the record that we received from them said that a total of 59500 was received from donations/sales of cards. Out of this total Rs. 40900 was with Azam hence making total of 130950. Out of this Azam paid Rs. 73325 for expenses such as Serena food bill, banner, transportation etc. At a later stage after continuous efforts of myself and Ali Qurban, he paid Rs. 20,000 to me and the final amount which he has to pay even today is Rs. 37625. As far as I am concerned, I had received a total amount of Rs. 19000 on account of direct collection during the program as well as some proceeds of cards and also the initial 1500 donation of Abuzar and Safida. After paying for music group, video, gifts and other miscellaneous items, a total amount of Rs. 9610 was left with me while after adding the 20,000 from Azam I had a total of Rs. 29930 in my account. In 2007 Mushaira of Murkhun, I paid 15000 cash to Mr. Abuzar for food whereas after paying for music, sound, video, transportation I had Rs. 1470 with me. I will definitely return it to the WTCA authorities with interest once I get the account number. Other receivables are as following:

Donations announced during the program :
Sitara Qayyum 1000
Navroz Shah 1500
Gojal Garments 1000
Shehzada Ibrahim 1500
Sherbaz Khan- Ceena 5000
Ejaz Karim 1000
Gojal Tea 5000
Safdar Jan 5000
21000

Other receivables: Sales of cards: Nisar: 6000, Ali Sher 2150 and Nadeem 1050.

There is another important thing that needs to be mentioned here. After the program was over, we were asked to face an audit committee comprising of Mr. Jan Muhammad, Mehrban, Khuda Dad etc. They had called a meeting in Jan Muhammad’s office but the only person who was available there was Sultan. I handed over the list of donation received from the group and relevant information to that committee. What is further progress on that is still unknown today.

So being a part of the organizing committee of the cultural gathering, I have this information which was necessary to be made public in face of growing debates. By God, personally I don’t have any political ambitions or personal interests except “Khidmat” and if that is taken wrong, I apologize to those who have been hurt because of my steps or actions. I don’t claim that I can do every thing perfectly but I have always tried my level best to make a contribution to the community. I have the tapes of Murkhun Mushaira available with me and will definitely like to make it part of the WTCA archive which I believe exists somewhere.

Said that, my apprehensions are as following:
1. When is the evergreen President going to hold an election?
2. Who is the General Secretary of WTCA?
3. Who is the Head of WTCA Committee in Gilgit?
4. What has been WTCA doing since long. Has there been any audit of WTCA at all? If yes since when the audit has not been done?
5. WTCA in one of its presentation had outlined its future vision which sys:
– Establishment of an international standard Wakhi cultural museum in Gilgit
– Establishment of Wakhy/Tajik Cultural Research Academy and to facilitate national and international scholars to undertake research work
– To adopt a policy framework based on “Cultural for Development”
-Promote peace and harmony among different communities of Northern Areas, Pamir belt and other parts of Pakistan, through different cultural programs
What has been achieved so far in this connection?

Moreover, what about the intellectual property of WTCA and sharing it widely? This includes but not limited to: research done so far (if any), CDs, videos, images and any other documentation. In this cyber age, we should expect most of these on the website so that every body can have access to the OFFICIAL resource of WTCA.

In short, we need not only have financial audit but also management audit so that the assets of WTCA are in safe hands not with individuals rather as an institutional memory.

Best

Sultan

Thanks Sultan for your detailed comment and your inputs regarding the details of events and accounts. I hope the management of WTCA will take its responsibility by appointing auditors to find out the complete facts and figures regarding the event organized in Gilgit.

I am still waiting for the official version of WTCA on this and my request for immediate comprehensive audit of the up to date accounts is need of the day.

I personally did not have the intension of hurting anybody and on this and my demand for immediate audit was to ensure an overall organizational cultural to flourish where transparency and accountability is maintained at all costs.

A well organised event to show the soft face of Wakhi life and sounds, must be appreciated by all across the Wakhi land. Alwaez Aslam being the host and rest of the degnitries deserve our sincere thanks for promoting litrature and creativity. It is a job welldone and must continue inspite of the senseless negativity by some of our friends.They need to consult the psychatrist for removal of negativity from their minds.Thanks

please read the first sentence of second line ” voilated”

Regards

Gathering 2005

The aftermath of the famous 2005 gathering, I am surprised that instead of appreciating the youth, the senior hierarchy of WTCA is continuously discouraging, politicizing the positive and constructive efforts of the Wakhi youth. It has been observed before, during and after the programme that the seniors have did their level best to underestimate and discourage the efforts of youth. The youth has gone through a very harsh and frustrating experience in Gilgit at that point of time. The so-called renowned scholars have a tag of war between themselves and I have practically experienced the lobbying groups within WTCA, and each group does not want/like another group to manipulate or interfere. I am coming up with a detailed report on WTCA as a whole shortly.

Now coming to the allegation and stories from Mr. Sultan Ahmed (Col. Imam) and Mr. Fazal Amin Beg (Brigadier Imtiaz) about the 2005 gathering, I would like to share my point of view in order to make the story easier to the readers to understand.

When I joined a very prestigious development organization in Gilgit in 2004, fortunately I found my old friend circle (from Ghizer and Gojal) in Gilgit especially those who had completed their university degrees. We had already a forum established and functional in Karachi with the name of Wakhi International Research Forum, so we got another opportunity to be unite again and work for what we had in mind. During weekends and every evening we always had get tog ethers at different residences and /or at Khan Restaurant usually. So we decided to work again from the same platform. Remember that Mr. Fazal Amin Beg from Gulmit and Sultan Ahmed from Chupurson never ever remained in our friend circle.

What is Wakhi International Research Forum?

Wakhi International Research Forum (WIRF) is a community based literary forum that came into being on January 01, 2004 with the mandate of research, publication and teaching on Wakhi language, people and in all its historic and cultural diversity. It also aims to study the system of Wakhiz moral and ethical thoughts, tradition and structure as well as public life, artistic and creative expressions in all forms. And more importantly it seek to create opportunities of interaction among linguistic researchers, traditional scholars and other professionals so as to deepen understanding of Wakhi language, culture and all forms of life (social, cultural and economic) and its relationship with neighboring regional languages as well as others include Urdu, English, Persian, Arabic etc

During an interaction with the then Finance Secretary, together with some friends of the forum, I requested him for support and explained our aims and objectives. He accepted our three proposals for cultural events (Gilgit, Gulmit and Sost) and asked to let him go through it. Copies of the proposals are available with me for office record.

That encouraging step from the Finance Secretary boosted up our moral and motivation to speed up our activities, so it was decided to meet elders and more importantly WTCA for arrangement of the gathering. Later on, we came to know that WTCA has already designed such event and is trying for two years to conduct but due to financial constraints, it is still pending. We offered our services and share to make the programme successful. We had more then 20 meetings or every day to discuss how the programme should be and can be successful? But interestingly, I didn’t saw these guys in the meetings, may be their official engagements didn’t allow them to spare time or what, I don’t know.

When the programme date and venue has been decided, the same date committees have been formed in order to streamline the programme and other requirements efficient and effectively. I was among the workers responsible for stage, singers, media and coordination.

Before 3 days of the programme we had a large gathering (meeting) at khan restaurant, where I again explained the aims and objectives of WIRF which Mr. Sultan Ahmed is very much inspired!!!! When we asked the progress of the fund collection/ card distribution, the funding committee replied with excuses and time constraints as most of them were students. Our colleagues decided to help out our junior friends in funding and card distribution process, so I spared two official bikes and one car, Ahmed Saleem, Ali Sher and Rehan also spared their official bikes so that we can reach each family or household within two days. So we did it from Gilgit to Danyore. Fazal Amin beg and Sultan Ahmed have no courage to recognize this or at least appreciate the students.

More importantly, the cards have been printed in very short time period and have been distributed and registered in a special format with signatures of the team member having number of cards and he was responsible to produce the card distributed to the individual even a child with name and signature. All these documents are already handed over to Fazal Amin Beg or Sultan Ahmed or WTCA Gilgit Unit. During our card distribution we met Fazal Amin at Ghulam Amin Beg’s house and there he complained that he has not been informed and/or taken into confidence by WTCA Gilgit Unit as he is General Secretary of WTCA and he showed reservation on some members of WTCA Gilgit Unit and Sultan Ahmed too.

When we reached at Khan Restaurant late at night from distribution of cards at the very last day of the programme, I came to know that Fazal Amin Beg and Sultan Ahmed had an interesting debate concluded with allegations and immoral words exchanged. And my friend Rehan Shah has also been targeted by Fazal Amin Beg quite personally.

I will agree with Sultan Ahmed regarding the sudden disappearance of Mr. Abuzur and lack of interest from WTCA Gojal Gulmit unit even we received their confirmation. I knew some facts but do not want to exaggerate things, Fazal Amin Beg can explain it well.

I would say the programe was quite successful and well organized. Beside Gojaliz (Wakhi and Burushaski speaking families and students), different dignitaries and guests from Central and Lower Hunza, Naggar, Astore, Skardu, Ghizer, Chilas and Gilgit also participated and enjoyed as well as appreciated. I gone through and rejected the evaluation report from Fazal Amin Beg and found it biased and personalized. I always accept positive critiques but not baseless and negative.

After the programme we prepared our financial reports, and a meeting has been called again at Khan Restaurant, Interestingly, when it was announced by one of the WTCA member that all invitees are present and we should proceed the meeting, I saw only the WTCA members over there and suddenly one of the member asked me to hand over the financial report. I handed over, and thought that the same will be done by Sultan Ahmed and others as well. But, they started another agenda and I never come to know what others did what not? The same time our colleagues wanted to join the meeting but they were totally ignored.

After one or two month, I have informed by the LG & RD to collect the fund for which WIRF has been submitted proposal long ago. So together with Fazal Ali Saadi (our member from Ishkoman and Ali Sher Roomi) we finalized the procedures and draw Rs. 90,000 in cash. Sultan Ahmed must make follow up on his famous proposal for WTCA with the present Secretary Finance or LG & RD.

The second day, Sultan Ahmed and Mr. Ali Qurban visited my office. During discussion I told them that we received fund from the LG & RD for cultural activities on WIRF’s proposal. Few days later they again came to my office and ordered to transfer the amount to WTCA account or pay the bills at Serena. I made them clear about the whole story and in the evening I discussed the matter with our WIRF colleagues and we decided to pay the outstanding bills of the programme as these two gentlemen were requesting that WTCA Gilgit Unit has not savings so Serena officials are continuously visiting them. So I paid the Serena outstanding bills. Again after few months, Fazal Amin Beg started email correspondence as a General Secretary of WTCA requested to transfer the remaining amount to WTCA and not to WTCA Gilgit Unit. According to him, Sultan Ahmed and Ali Qurban are not official representatives of WTCA Gilgit Unit. But I explained him and handed over copies of the proposals, Expenditure sheet and summary of the cards and fund collection. At that time when we produced evidences regarding the ownership of that fund we made clear to Fazal Amin Beg that no further assistance will be given to WTCA from the remaining fund.

The details which I have already informed and handed over to WTCA are as follow:

Collection of donations/Card selling 39’600
LG & RD Fund on the proposal of WIRF 90’000

Total 129600

Sultan Ahmed for Gifts 3000
Transportation (Programme Day) 3000
Taxi Fairs (for workers) 1130
Lunch/Dinner for Artists/ Workers 1545
Banners 1600
Refreshment (Serena) 62750
Amount given to Sikandar 20000

Total 93025

Cash in Hand with WIRF 36575

Last year when GECA organized Eid Milan Show in Islamabad, WIRF contributed 20,000 after consultation with our members in order to strengthen our relationship and partnership with GECA active in Islamabad-Rawalpindi and neighboring areas for a common cause.

We explored new synergies and we are committed to work for what we have established this forum and soon the world will see our tangible results.

Without mentioning any body’s name I would say this media trial is a small scene of the big games (tug of war) between different interest groups and individuals based on village, clan and intellectual superiority complexions within WTCA and in the environment of Gilgit. We must accept the realities and let the youth be organized and we should encourage them to become a change agent. Otherwise, we will be leading by contractors and those who do not know the ABC of culture, language and Leadership.

WIRF is a reality now, WTCA must accept this and lets join hand and strengthen institutions and work for promoting and learning Wakhi Language and culture; doesn’t matter it is WTCA, WIRF, GECA or Group of Friends, we have a common goal so we can work together instead of blaming each other.

I agree with Sultan Ahmed’s apprehensions and Fazal Amin Beg must answer these important questions being General Secretary of WTCA and member of CEC.

I too have many apprehensions for WTCA, and both of my brothers, but for a wider interest I would not mention here in order to keep their professional and social standings.

Regards

Azam

slomalik