0
MUZAFFARABAD: Barrister Sultan Mahmood, the incumbent Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) president and one of the region’s most influential political figures, passed away on Saturday in an Islamabad hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 70.
His demise marks the end of an era in AJK politics, a landscape he helped shape with strategic acumen, resilience, and an unparalleled grasp of the region’s complex biradri dynamics.
Born into a prominent Jatt family on August 9, 1955, in Chichian village on the outskirts of Mirpur, Sultan Mahmood was the son of Chaudhry Noor Hussain, a towering figure in Kashmiri politics and co-founder of the Azad Muslim Conference.
Educated at Gordon College in Rawalpindi, Mr Mahmood went on to study law in the United Kingdom and was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn. This legal grounding became a cornerstone of his career, allowing him to advocate for the Kashmiri cause at the United Nations and European Parliament with eloquence and authority.
A titan of Kashmiri politics, he deftly navigated shifting political currents
Mr Mahmood’s political trajectory was as remarkable as it was complex. He made his electoral debut in 1985 in the AJK Legislative Assembly under his father’s Azad Muslim Conference banner, quickly establishing himself as a formidable force in the southern districts of Kotli, Mirpur, and Bhimber. Over the decades, he deftly navigated shifting political currents — aligning with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), founding the Peoples Muslim League, leading the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and eventually returning to the PPP’s fold — always maintaining a decisive influence over electoral outcomes.
Youngest prime minister
In 1996, he became AJK’s youngest prime minister at the age of 41, a tenure that coincided with heightened conflict in Indian-held Kashmir. During this period, he personally led anti-India and pro-freedom demonstrations across the region, embodying leadership and courage. Even faced with adversities, such as coups and strained party alliances, Barrister Mahmood remained a central figure in the region’s power dynamics and made a name for his sharp strategic mind and uncanny ability to shift political gravities.
A statesman with a vision for cross-border engagement, he visited occupied Kashmir in 2011, meeting leaders from across the ideological spectrum, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and then chief minister Omar Abdullah.
His efforts emphasised freedom of movement, trade facilitation, and the urgent need to address human rights concerns, notably the issue of unmarked graves in the occupied territory.
Throughout his career, Barrister Mahmood’s electoral record reflected his enduring popularity: from 1985 onwards, he contested 11 elections in his home constituency of Mirpur, emerging victorious nine times. His influence extended to mentoring the next generation, notably his son Yasir Sultan, whom he successfully brought into the political arena.
Despite declining health in recent months, the deceased remained committed to his duties until his hospitalisation in Islamabad. His demise has elicited tributes from across the political spectrum, civil society, and Kashmiri communities.
His funeral will be held at Mirpur’s Quaid-i-Azam Stadium at 4pm on Sunday, following which he will be laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard alongside his father.
Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore announced a three-day official mourning, during which state flags will fly at half-mast. The PPP’s regional chapter also announced mourning for the departed leader.
Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2026
