Rawalpindi: (Parliament Times) Speakers at a function held in connection with death anniversary of former AJK president and Prime Minister Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyoum Khan said that the deceased leader was a visionary statesman with great political acumen.
The function hosted by the media wing of Kashmir Liberation Cell was attended by leaders of different political and religious parties of Azad Jammu and Kashmir including Syed Shoukat Shah minister food government of AJK, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore the secretary general PPP-AJK chapter, MC leader Sardar Abdul Razik advocate, JI leader Noor-ul-Bari, Director KLC Fida Kiani and several others.
Speaking on the occasion Shoukat Shah said that Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyoum Khan was a visionary politician, great supporter of freedom movement and a strong proponent of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. Terming the deceased leader as a multi-dimensional personality he said that Khan had dedicated his entire life for the cause of Kashmir. Besides laying foundation of development and progress in the liberated Kashmir, Shah said that the former premier introduced institutional reforms in the region. PPP leader Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said that Khan had introduced civility, forbearance and high moral values in the politics. Rathore said that his entire life was full of struggle. Describing him as a man of great wisdom he said that raising the rebellion against Dogra rule was the most daring act and initiative he had taken against the autocratic rule.
The other leaders also paid eulogizing tributes to the visionary statesman of the region who have had the opportunity to rule the region for the most of time during his decades’ long political carrier.
Khan who achieved the title of Mujahid-e-Awal actively participated in the Kashmiri freedom struggle. Title Mujahid-e-Awwal (the first warrior) is based on the belief that he is the person who fired the first bullet against Dogra Army at Neelabutt in 1947.
He joined the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1951. He was elected president of this body a record 14 times during his lifetime. He was elected as President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) state three times in 1956, 1971 and 1985. He also remained Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir from 1991 to 1996. In 2002, he was made chairman of the National Kashmir Committee.
Pertinently other than his political engagements Khan had authored dozens of books on Kashmir conflict. He also wrote on political, mystic, spiritual and religious topics. Khan died in Rawalpindi on 10 July 2015.
