President of Azad Kashmir

Constitutional and ceremonial head of state of Azad Kashmir

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President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir

صدر آزاد جموں و کشمیر

Seal of the government

State flag of the Azad Kashmir

Incumbent
Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry

since 25 August 2021

Government of Azad Kashmir
Style|

* Honourable President
(formal)
* His Excellency
(diplomatic)
* Mr President
(informal)

Type| Head of state
Abbreviation| Pres. AJK
Member of| Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly
Residence| President House, Muzaffarabad
Seat| President Secretariat, Muzaffarabad
Appointer| Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
Term length| 5 years; renewable
Constituting instrument| Interim Constitution of Azad Kashmir
Precursor| Monarch of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir
Inaugural holder| Sardar Ibrahim Khan
(1947–1950)
Formation| 24 October 1947; (75 years ago)
Deputy| No fixed position; however held by Speaker of Legislative Assembly in President's absence
Website| www.presidentajk.gov.pk

The president of Azad Kashmir (Urdu: صدرِ آزاد کشمیر, romanized: s̤adr-i Azād Kaṣhmīr lit. 'President of Azad Kashmir', Urdu pronunciation: [s̤ə'dr-e: a:'za:d kə'ʂmi:r]), officially the president of the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is the constitutional and ceremonial head of state of Azad Kashmir.

The president is elected by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for terms of 5 years under the provisions of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (Interim Constitution) Act, 1974.[1]

## Powers of President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

[edit]

Executive Powers related to appointment, removal, issuing orders and oath taking.

Judicial Powers related to Supreme Court and High Court of Azad Kashmir.

Legislative Powers related to Legislative Assembly of state.

Emergency Powers related to emergency.

## Executive Powers

[edit]

He is constitutional and ceremonial head of state. All executive powers are exercised by Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir consisting of Prime Minister and cabinet on his behalf. He is bound to act on the advice of the Prime Minister or cabinet.

He is Vice Chairman of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council.

The President may, on advice of the Prime Minister, make rules for carrying out the purpose of the Constitution.

He can promulgate orders on advice of Prime Minister, Ministers or relevant authority.

He appoints senior most minister as Prime Minister in absence of Prime Minister due to death, resignation or removal of Prime Minister or any other reason.

He appoints Plebiscite Adviser in state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He appoints Advocate General of state on advice of Prime Minister.

He appoints Auditor General in state on advice of Chairman of Council.

He appoints Chief Election Commissioner after consultation with Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition.

He appoints Members and Chairman of Council of Islamic Ideology on advice of Prime Minister.

He appoints Chairman of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission on advice of Prime Minister.

As a Chancellor of Public sector Universities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he appoints Vice Chancellors of that universities on recommendation of relevant authority.

He take oath from Prime Minister and members of cabinet including Ministers and Advisers.

## Judicial Powers

[edit]

He appoints Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

He appoint Chief Justice of High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He appoints Judges of Supreme Court and High Court on advice of Council.

He appoints Acting Chief Justice of Supreme Court and High Court in absence of Chief Justice and may also appoints additional Judges of High Court and also ad hoc judges of Supreme Court and High Court of state.

The Aalim Judge of Shariat Appellate Bench of the High Court shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and after consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of High Court.

He can remove Judges of Supreme Court and High Court of state on recommendations of Supreme Judicial Council.

If, at any time, the Chairman of the Council or the President desires to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on any question of law which he considers of public importance, he may refer the question to the Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for reconsideration.

President shall have power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority.

He also take oath from Chief Justice of Supreme Court and High Court of Azad Kashmir.

## Legislative Powers

[edit]

Every Bill can become act only when the President of the state assents it or deemed to be assented after passage of certain time.

He can summon and prorogue sessions of Legislative Assembly of State.

He can dissolve Legislative Assembly on advice of Prime Minister.

He can promulgate ordinances when he is satisfied that Legislative Assembly is not in session on advice of Prime Minister or cabinet.

The President may address the Assembly and send massages to the Assembly.

All proceedings of the Assembly shall be conducted in accordance with Rules of Procedure made by the Assembly and approved by the President.

The Speaker of the Assembly may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the President.

He signs finance bill approved by Legislative Assembly of state.

He signs constitutional amendment bill of state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

## Emergency Powers

[edit]

According to Article 53 of Interim Constitution of AJK, President can issue proclamation of Emergency on advice of Chairman of Council when the security of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is threatened by war or external aggression or by internal disturbances.

He can suspend fundamental rights of citizens of State during Emergency is in force.

## List of presidents

[edit]

The following individuals have served as president of Azad Kashmir.[2][3]

#  | Image  | Name  | Took office  | Left office  | Party

|
|
|
|
|

1  |  | Sardar Ibrahim Khan | 24 October 1947  | 12 May 1950  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
2  |  | Ali Ahmed Shah | 13 May 1950  | 4 Dec 1951  | Military
3  |  | Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah | 5 Dec 1951  | 20 May 1952  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]  |  | Raja Haydar Khan (interim)  | 18 May 1952  | 21 Jun 1952  | \-
4  |  | Sher Ahmed Khan | 21 Jun 1952  | 30 May 1956  | Military
5  |  | Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah (2)  | 30 May 1956  | 8 Sep 1956  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
6  |  | Sardar Abdul Qayyum | 8 Sep 1956  | 13 Apr 1957  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
7  |  | Sardar Ibrahim Khan (2)  | 13 Apr 1957  | 30 Apr 1959  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
8  |  | Khurshid Hasan Khurshid | 1 May 1959  | 7 Aug 1964  | Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League
9  |  | Abdul Hamid Khan | 7 Aug 1964  | 7 Oct 1969  | \-
[A]  |  | Abdul Rahman Khan (interim)  | 7 Oct 1969  | 30 Oct 1970  | Military
10  |  | Sardar Abdul Qayyum (2)  | 30 Oct 1970  | 16 Apr 1975  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]  |  | Sheikh Manzar Masaud (interim)  | 16 Apr 1975  | 5 Jun 1975  |
11  |  | Sardar Ibrahim Khan (3)  | 5 Jun 1975  | 30 Oct 1978  | Azad Muslim Conference
12  |  | Muhammad Hayat Khan | 30 Oct 1978  | 1 Feb 1983  | Military
13  |  | Abdul Rahman Khan | 1 Feb 1983  | 1 Oct 1985  | Military
14  |  | Sardar Abdul Qayyum (3)  | 1 Oct 1985  | 20 Jul 1991  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
15  |  | Muhammad Ishaq Zaffar | 20 Jul 1991  | 29 Jul 1991  | Pakistan Peoples Party
[A]  |  | Abdul Rashid Abbasi (interim)  | 29 Jul 1991  | 12 Aug 1991  | \-
16  |  | Sardar Sikandar Hayat | 12 Aug 1991  | 12 May 1996  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]  |  | Abdul Rashid Abbasi (interim)  | 12 May 1996  | 22 May 1996  | \-
17  |  | Sardar Sikandar Hayat (2)  | 23 May 1996  | 11 Aug 1996  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]  |  | Abdul Rashid Abbasi (interim)  | 11 Aug 1996  | 25 Aug 1996  | \-
18  |  | Sardar Ibrahim Khan (4)  | 25 Aug 1996  | 25 Aug 2001  | Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party
19  |  | Sardar Anwar Khan | 25 Aug 2001  | 25 Aug 2006  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
20  |  | Raja Zulqarnain Khan | 25 Aug 2006  | 25 Aug 2011  | All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
21  |  | Sardar Yaqoob Khan | 25 Aug 2011  | 25 Aug 2016  | Pakistan Peoples Party
22  |  | Masood Khan | 25 Aug 2016  | 25 Aug 2021  | Pakistan Muslim League (N)
23  |  | Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry | 25 Aug 2021[4] | Present  | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

## See also

[edit]

* Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir
* Government of Azad Kashmir
* List of current Pakistani governors
* List of current Pakistani chief ministers
* List of chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2017.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. ^ World Statesmen: Azad Kashmir
3. ^ "Official Website of the Planning and Development Department of the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir". Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
4. ^ "PTI's Barrister Sultan Mahmood elected AJK president". Dawn (newspaper). 25 August 2021.

masood

## External links

[edit]

* Website Archived 26 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Azad Kashmir topics

Capital: Muzaffarabad

History|

* History of Kashmir
* History of Azad Kashmir
* Dynasties of ancient Kashmir
* Sayyid Dynasty
* Mughal Empire
* Durrani Empire
* Sikh Empire

Modern history|

* British East India Company
* Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir
* Poonch jagir
* British Raj
* Kashmir Committee
* 1931 agitation
* Partition of India
* 1947 Poonch Rebellion
* First Kashmir War
* Kashmir conflict
* Timeline of the Kashmir conflict
* Indo-Pakistani wars
* Line of Control
* Shaksgam tract
* Simla Agreement
* Kashmir insurgency
* Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
* Hizbul Mujahideen
* Kashmir Solidarity Day
* Kashmir earthquake

Government and politics|

* Karachi Agreement
* Interim Constitution
* Presidents
* Prime Ministers
* Ministry of Kashmir Affairs
* Legislative Assembly
* Flag
* Anthem
* Seal

Culture and places|

* Kashmiris (List)
* Language
* Cuisine
* Music
* Literature
* Ethnic groups of Azad Kashmir
* Diaspora
* Kashmiriyat

Geography|

* Districts
* Cities
* Pothohar Plateau
* Poonch River
* Neelum River
* Chicken's Neck (Pakistan)
* Line of Control

Districts|

* Bhimber
* Kotli
* Mirpur
* Muzaffarabad
* Hattian Bala
* Neelam
* Poonch
* Haveli
* Bagh
* Sudhanoti

Cities & Town|

* Muzaffarabad
* Mirpur
* Rawalakot
* Bagh
* Kotli
* Pallandri
* Bhimber
* Hattian Bala
* Alibeg

Economy|

* Mangla Dam
* Remittances to Azad Kashmir
* Japan International Cooperation Agency

Education|

* Mirpur University of Science and Technology
* University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
* University of Poonch
* Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh
* Al-Khair University
* Mohi-ud-Din Islamic University

Sport|

* Quaid-e-Azam Stadium
* Bagh stadium

Others|

* Mughal Road
* Human rights abuses
* UN mediation of Kashmir

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