Thursday, March 19, 2026
6.5 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

Release of Environmental Activist Sonam Wangchuk Sparks Hope in Ladakh

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

Trout Production and Aquaculture Transform India-Administered Kashmir’s Economy

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir, with its abundant cold-water resources,...

Indian Government Revokes NSA Detention of Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk Amid Rising Calls for Dialogue

Srinagar/Leh – The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs announced...

Gilgit-Baltistan Erupts: Protests Intensify Over Detention of Civic Leaders

Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir – March 15, 2026:On the occasion...

Weather Alert in India-Administered Kashmir: Rain and Snow Likely Until March 19, Says Meteorological Department

Srinagar: Authorities in Srinagar say unsettled weather conditions are...

Top Stories

Release of Environmental Activist Sonam Wangchuk Sparks Hope in Ladakh

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

Trout Production and Aquaculture Transform India-Administered Kashmir’s Economy

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir, with its abundant cold-water resources,...

Gilgit-Baltistan Erupts: Protests Intensify Over Detention of Civic Leaders

Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir – March 15, 2026:On the occasion...

Indian Supreme Court Grants Bail to Kashmiri Leader Shabir Ahmed Shah After Years in Jail

SRINAGAR: India’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to...

Israel Strikes Basij Militia Assets in Iran’s Ilam Province, Reports Claim

Ilam Province, Iran – The Israeli military has announced...
spot_img

Related Stories