Former AJK president Sardar Abdul Qayyum passes away

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and veteran politician Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan passed away in the federal capitay city on Friday.

He was considered as one of the founders of the Kashmir Liberation Movement and the supreme leader of the Muslim Conference, which is the oldest political party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir region.

Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan became president the first time in September 1956 and ended his last presidency in July 1991 and was then prime minister until 1996.

Sardar Abdul Qayyum was also known as "Mujahid-e-Awal" or "the first holy warrior," and was believed to have fired the first bullet in the 1947 war of liberation to establish AJK.

He had been suffering from several diseases since last few years.

Read: A leaf from history: Sardar Qayyum on a mission

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Atif Khan

Jul 10, 2015 11:35am

Very sad. R.I.P.

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Jatin

Jul 10, 2015 11:40am

No one took care of him in Pakistan...

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Hassan

Jul 10, 2015 11:40am

RIP, though didn't agree with him when he introduced family politics in AJK

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Ali

Jul 10, 2015 12:09pm

Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon

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Satt

Jul 10, 2015 12:33pm

Obama,Putin, and all the great leaders of the world have sent their condolences and condolences are pouring in from all corner's of the world because he was one the great and popular leader of the world and had made AJK one of the most developed democracies of the world.He was the leader who never believed in the force of the gun but always believed in love and mutual sustenance.

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Euro

Jul 10, 2015 12:47pm

Such a great man who fought for his people under immense pressure to liberate Azad Jammu and Kashmir from from the Indians. This show once again that the Kashmiris, just like their brethren in Sindh, KP, Balochistan and Punjab, wanted to join Pakistan and see Indians as a foreign ovcupation force.

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Strange

Jul 10, 2015 12:54pm

@Jatin He was not immortal. I think he was in his 80s or even 90s when he died. Pakistan does not have the resources to prevent death.

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Mubashar Choudhry

Jul 10, 2015 01:05pm

He spent his life nothing for Kashmiri and try to Strengthening dictatorship in Pak, Gen Zai treat him Murshid.

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m m amin

Jul 10, 2015 01:06pm

"to every man death upon this earth death cometh soon or late........" J.Shirley Death the Leveler . He was a muslim par excellence . RIP . A man without any arrogance that come with high office. Ina Lillah e wa ina elahe rajaeoon.

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Taimoor Khan

Jul 10, 2015 01:59pm

Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon

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Tousif Latif

Jul 10, 2015 02:14pm

Death of Sardar Abdul Qayoom is a great loss.Within the limiting range of politics he kept his stature far above than the rest.He brought about an educational revolution in AJK and opened schools in every nook and corner of AJK.Today AJk has the exclusive honour of having the highest literacy and enrolement rate in Pakistan.Karl Marks pointed out in his writings that areas of kashmir still having the traditions and patterns of primitve commuism alive and woven in their culture.Sardar sb was a symbol of that.He served his people honestly and dedicatedly and they all have deep respect and regard for him .

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Raja Farhat Abbas

Jul 10, 2015 02:15pm

Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon

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Sardar Tayyab

Jul 10, 2015 02:30pm

RIP

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Anwar

Jul 10, 2015 02:38pm

First freedom fighter and loyalist to cause of Kashmir freedom movement. He could not promote himself like Yasir Arafat did and also couldn't take Kashmir cause to international forums so we can sadly say Kashmir after 50 or 60 years long struggle is not liberated. He could guide freedom fighters to a political route but he remained deserted through all these years Anyway very sad.R.I.P and Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon

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mansoor ellahi

Jul 10, 2015 03:10pm

Ina lila.....sardar Abdul Qayyum was the personality to whom I personnaly met at Khanewal in about 1980.at that time Russia was defeated and we were happy.But Sardar sb warned us about consequances of unipolar world.and time prove the realty.USA tried its best to conquer the muslim world

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zain sayed

Jul 10, 2015 03:15pm

He was nice, but he was supporting Kashmir on religious grounds therefore u.n.o. resolution didn't work.

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nabidad

Jul 10, 2015 03:50pm

Inna Lillah Wa Inna Elaih Rajioon.

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Jatt

Jul 10, 2015 04:03pm

@Satt No he was unknown outside of his own region, even in India and pakistan many have never heard of him.

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NoFame

Jul 10, 2015 04:06pm

rest in peace

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Sohail

Jul 10, 2015 05:26pm

Inna lillah wa inna elaih rajioon. End of and era.

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Raja Farhat Abbas

Jul 10, 2015 05:37pm

@Jatt Many in Pakistan know who he was, only a few like you don't know who he was.

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zahid

Jul 10, 2015 07:06pm

Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon

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DisparateAamer

Jul 10, 2015 07:15pm

Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. Met him in Muzzafarabad in 89/90. Very humble person and loved Pakistan very much.

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Jfmunir

Jul 10, 2015 08:13pm

Salute to the great man.May God Almighty grant him place in Jannah.His struggle for liberation of Kashmir will always be remembered.

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Advocate Qamar Yasin

Jul 10, 2015 08:56pm

He was a great Person & leader .. salute MUJAHID-E-AWAL...

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kunjan

Jul 10, 2015 11:24pm

RIP, but instead of remembering anyone as person who fired 1st bullet, why not remember someone that he was peace loving and forgiving and non violent.

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