January 31, 2026, Muzaffarabad/Islamabad The current President of AJK, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, died in Islamabad following a protracted illness, and the people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir are in mourning. His age was seventy-one.
Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry was born in Chechian Mirpur on August 9, 1955. He attended Gordon College in Rawalpindi before obtaining his bar-at-law degree in the United Kingdom. He became one of the most powerful Kashmiri leaders after entering politics in the 1980s.
After serving as Azad Kashmir’s prime minister from 1996 to 2001, he was elected president in 2021 and remained in that role until his passing. Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry was well-known for his ardent support of the Kashmir cause throughout his career, bringing up the subject of human rights abuses and self-determination in Indian-administered Kashmir at international forums.
Political, social, and religious circles throughout Pakistan and Kashmir have been shocked by his unexpected death. Leaders from various parties have expressed their sorrow, referring to him as a symbol of democratic struggle and a voice for the oppressed people of Kashmir.
On February 1, 2026, at 3 PM, funeral prayers will be held in his hometown of Chechian, Mirpur. Thousands of supporters, political leaders, and community members are expected to attend.
A legacy of political leadership, public service, and commitment to the Kashmiri cause is left by Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry. Future generations will continue to be inspired by his vision for Kashmir’s freedom and development, even though his passing signifies the end of an era in AJK politics.
May Allah give his family strength and grant him eternal peace. Ameen.
Also read: High-Level Talks: AJK President Sultan Mahmood and Faryal Talpur Discuss Government Formation
