Sardar Ibrahim Khan, first President of Azad Kashmir, remembered on his death anniversary
Sardar Ibrahim Khan was founder of Jammu Kashmir People's Party and 4 time elected president of AJK
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan is remembered as Bani-e-Kashmir (Father of Kashmir) for his efforts to win freedom for the people of Kashmir. He served as the president of Azad Kashmir for four terms.
Born on April 10, 1915, in the village of Kot Matta near Rawalakot, Sardar Ibrahim went to the UK after getting done with his initial education in order to attain higher education and returned back with a law degree from the famous Lincoln’s Inn.
He began to serve as public prosecutor in Mirpur from 1943 and became the first ever barrister of Kashmir. A year later, Sardar Ibrahim was appointed as Assistant Advocate by then Kashmiri Maharaja.
He decided to leave his office in order to attain an active political career and to make efforts for the liberation of Kashmir. He won the elections with flying colours and was made part of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.
After the resolution of Kashmir’s accession with Pakistan was passed in 1947, Sardar Ibrahim declared Jihad against Maharaja Hari Singh’s forces and confronted the Maharaja through his guerrilla warriors but was unable to take hold of the entire region because of the Indian forces whereas the passing of certain resolutions of the United Nations also placed hindrances in his path.
However, the area captured by Sardar Ibrahim Khan and his forces were named as Azad Kashmir whereas Sardar himself got elected as the first president of the territory that was made an administrative unit of Pakistan.
In July 1990, Sardar Ibrahim Khan formed the Jammu Kashmir People’s Party (JKPP) in order to provide a political platform to the people of the region to enter politics and make their efforts for the freedom of Kashmir.
Sardar Ibrahim always enjoyed immense popularity at home. He served as President of Azad Kashmir for four terms. He breathed his last on July 31, 2003, and was laid to rest in Islamabad.
