Saturday, March 21, 2026
7.7 C
Srinagar

AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry Passes Away at 71

Muzaffarabad (Pakistan administrated Kashmir): President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, passed away on Sunday at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness. He was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Islamabad, according to family sources.

The family confirmed that his funeral prayers will be offered later today in his ancestral village Chechiyan, near Mirpur.

Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry began his political career in 1983 and remained an influential figure in Azad Kashmir’s politics for over four decades. During his long political journey, he remained associated with several major political parties, including the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Editor's Note

Support Fearless Journalism

No state backing. No paywalls. Just truth. Support Kashmir's independent voice. Join 2,400+ patrons who fund independent voices.

Zero Paywalls
Reader Funded
Award Winning
Become a Patron From $5/month • Cancel anytime
Secure Payment
Encrypted

Representing his ancestral constituency of Mirpur, he was elected nine times as a Member of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, a rare political achievement in the region.

He served as the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir from 1996 to 2001, playing a key role in the political and administrative affairs of the territory. On August 25, 2021, he was elected as the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a position he held until his passing.

Barrister Sultan Mahmood joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in February 2015. In the 2016 elections, he faced the first electoral defeat of his 25-year parliamentary career. However, he returned to the Legislative Assembly after winning the 2019 by-elections.

According to medical sources, he was suffering from liver cancer and passed away during treatment in Islamabad.

Following his death, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir announced three days of official mourning across the state. During this period, the state flag will remain at half-mast, and condolence references will be held in his honor.

Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry is remembered as a seasoned politician, legal expert, and a central figure in Azad Kashmir’s contemporary political history.

Hot this week

Iran War: How Many Aircraft Has Tehran Lost So Far?

As the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United...

IRGC Defies Netanyahu: ‘We Are Building Missiles Even in War Conditions’

Iranian military spokesman gives Tehran's missile program a "perfect...

No ‘Atmosphere of Celebration’ as Iranians Mark Nowruz and Eid Under Shadow of War

Dual festivals overshadowed by grief, security concerns, and political...

New Delhi Approves Over $643 million USD for Power Sector Overhaul in Indian-Administered Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-Administered Kashmir — The Indian government has approved...

Fresh Snowfall Blankets Gulmarg, Sonamarg; Heavy Rain Lashes Plains in Kashmir

Srinagar: Several upper reaches of Kashmir, including the popular...

Top Stories

Iran War: How Many Aircraft Has Tehran Lost So Far?

As the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United...

IRGC Defies Netanyahu: ‘We Are Building Missiles Even in War Conditions’

Iranian military spokesman gives Tehran's missile program a "perfect...

No ‘Atmosphere of Celebration’ as Iranians Mark Nowruz and Eid Under Shadow of War

Dual festivals overshadowed by grief, security concerns, and political...

New Delhi Approves Over $643 million USD for Power Sector Overhaul in Indian-Administered Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-Administered Kashmir — The Indian government has approved...

Fresh Snowfall Blankets Gulmarg, Sonamarg; Heavy Rain Lashes Plains in Kashmir

Srinagar: Several upper reaches of Kashmir, including the popular...

Netanyahu Delays Strike on Iranian Gas Fields Following Trump Request

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced late last night...

IDF Confirms Airstrikes in Syria, Citing Protection of Druze Community

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that...

Release of Environmental Activist Sonam Wangchuk Sparks Hope in Ladakh

Srinagar – Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk has been released following...
spot_img

Related Stories