Former AJK president Sardar Abdul Qayyum passes away
President Mamnoon Hussain and PM Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over his demise.
AZAD KASHMIR (Dunya News) – Former President and Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan passed away today (Friday) at the age of 91 years after prolonged illness, Dunya News reported.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over his demise.
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan was also the supreme leader of “Muslim Conference”, which is the oldest political party in AJK region and was amongst the founding leaders of Kashmir freedom movement.
He was born on April 4, 1924 in Zila Bagh area Gazi Abad. After his matriculation he was employed in British Indian Army’s engineering cover from 1942 to 1946.
On August 23, 1947 he initiated Kashmir Freedom Movement against Dogra army and authorities as a result of which Azad Kashmir’s part was liberated. Considering his sacrifices, he is also called Mujahid-e-Awal and was believed to have fired the first bullet in the 1947 war of liberation to establish AJK.
He also remained the chairman of Presidential Kashmir Committee and was the pioneer of Freedom Movement from 1947 to 1949.
In 1952, he was charged with violation of ceasefire line and was imprisoned for one and a half year.
Later in 1956, he was elected President of AJK State by the General Council of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference which was then working as the Constitutional Authority.
He was elected as President AJK State on the basis of adult franchise for four years in 1971 whereas in 1985 he was elected President of the State by the assembly after a ban on political activities. Besides this, he was again nominated President of the State for the fourth time in 1990.
He was chosen as member and leader of opposition in AJK Assembly from 1996 to 1998.
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan is also the author of six books.
