Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Rajioon

It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the passing of Barrister Sultan Mehmood Choudhary, former Prime Minister and President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, who passed away today (Janaury 31, 2026) in Islamabad at the age of 71. Salatul Janazah will be performed on February 1, 2026, at Qaid-e-Azam Stadium, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.

Barrister Sultan was born on August 9, 1955, in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. He completed his graduation from Gardon College, Rawalpindi, and earned his Bar-at-Law degree from Lincoln’s Inn, England. He was elected Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir in 1996 and later served as President of Azad Kashmir in 2021.

Barrister Sahib was a politician of rare and unique qualities. On a personal note, he always treated me as a trusted friend—a bond I will cherish for the rest of my life.

One of his most distinctive qualities was his strong commitment to international engagement. He frequently visited Washington, London, Brussels, and Oslo—often more than once. He was perhaps the only leader from Azad Kashmir who consistently ensured that his appointments with the United States Department of State and the United Nations Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs were formally confirmed even before departing from Islamabad. These advance arrangements invariably proved beneficial for advancing the Kashmir cause.

Barrister Sultan Mehmood was also the only political leader from Azad Kashmir who visited Indian-occupied Kashmir and met with the entire Hurriyat leadership, including Syed Ali Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He also held a detailed meeting with Omar Abdullah, then Chief Minister of Indian-occupied Kashmir.

In 2016, he initiated the idea of organizing Million-Man Marches for Kashmir in major capitals of the world. The first such march was held in London. In October 2017, he visited the United States and conducted extensive corner meetings in New York, Chicago, Houston, Jersey City, Boston, and Washington, D.C. While in Washington, he explained to me—and to colleagues including Sardar Zulfiqar Roshan Khan, Sardar Zarif Khan, Sardar Zubair Khan, Raja Liaqat Kiyani, Sardar Shoaib Irshad and others —that whenever he planned a Kashmir conference in cities such as London, Brussels, or Oslo, he always held small preparatory meetings to mobilize the community. He followed the same strategy in the United States.

These efforts bore remarkable results. More than 30,000 people participated in the New York march held on October 25, 2015, commemorating October 27—the Day of Occupation—two days in advance.

In September 2017, Barrister Sahib called me from Islamabad to inform me of his plan to organize a Million-Man March in Berlin on October 27, 2017. He asked me to participate, emphasizing its symbolic significance, noting that Kashmir—like Berlin—was divided by a wall separating families and land. Although I was scheduled to attend an important NGO board meeting in Istanbul that weekend, he insisted, and I canceled my visit to Istanbul to join him in Berlin.

I was genuinely surprised to learn that he had conducted corner meetings not only in England and Germany, but also in Norway. Despite heavy rainfall, thousands attended the Berlin march. The demonstration concluded at the office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where a memorandum was formally submitted.

During my visit to Pakistan in May 2024, Dr. Waleed Rasool, a noted expert on Kashmir affairs, and Sardar Zulfiqar Roshan Khan of the Kashmir American Welfare Association (KAWE) received me at Islamabad Airport late in the evening. They informed me that I needed to be ready early the next morning, as President Barrister Sultan Mehmood—also serving as Chancellor of Azad Kashmir universities—had convened a meeting of all Vice Chancellors, along with Dr. Mukhtar Sheikh, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.

The meeting included Dr. Kaleem Abbasi (University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir), Dr. Zakarya Zakir (University of Rawalakot), Dr. Rehmat Ali Khan (University of Kotli), Dr. Abdul Hameed (University of Bagh), and Dr. Younis Javed (Mirpur University). Dr. Waleed Rasool and Sardar Zulfiqar Khan were also present.

To my great surprise, Barrister Sahib generously advised the Vice Chancellors to consult me on matters related to Kashmir. The meeting lasted four to five hours. I proposed the establishment of Kashmir research cells in every university and encouraged students to pursue PhD research on various dimensions of the Kashmir issue. Subsequently, the HEC appointed a director to oversee developments in this area. Unfortunately, due to his declining health, Barrister Sahib could not pursue this initiative further. I hope that Lateef Akbar Sahib, Speaker of the Azad Kashmir Assembly and Acting President, will carry this vision forward.

I would also like to share a memorable incident. Barrister Sahib was invited by an NGO to deliver a keynote address on “India–Pakistan Relations” in the Washington metropolitan area. Upon his arrival at Dulles International Airport, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan informed me that Barrister Sahib wished to meet me before checking into his hotel.

When he arrived at my home, I found him visibly upset. He explained that although he had been invited as Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir to speak on ‘India-Pakistan Relations”, however, the organizers had requested—after his arrival—that he avoid discussing human rights violations in Kashmir and focus only on India–Pakistan relations. He firmly told them that it was his legal and moral duty to raise the Kashmir issue at every forum, and that he would return to Islamabad without attending the conference if he was prevented from doing so. The organizers realized their mistake and allowed him to speak freely.

During the three-day convention, more than a dozen sessions were held. Barrister Sultan Mehmood’s session alone was attended by over 400 participants and was among the most successful and well-attended of the entire event.

Barrister Sultan firmly believed that Kashmir was not a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad, but an internationally recognized dispute. He consistently argued that any dialogue process must include all three parties: India, Pakistan, and the people of Kashmir. When asked by a member of the U.S. Congress who would represent the Kashmiri people, he responded without hesitation that he had full faith in the leadership of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

He repeatedly emphasized that lasting peace in South Asia would not be possible without resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. He also believed that a strong Pakistan was essential for effectively defending the rights of Kashmiris.

We will deeply miss Barrister Sultan Mehmood Choudhary—his leadership, courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to the cause of Kashmir.

May Allah Almighty grant him Jannatul Firdous and give patience and strength to his family, colleagues, and the people of Azad Kashmir. Ameen.

The writer is Chairman World forum for Peace & Justice and  Secretary General World Kashmir Awareness forum. He can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435 ,[email protected]  ,www.kashmirawareness.org