Current prime minister of Azad Kashmir is Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq. He belongs to district Bhimber.
Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq is a prominent Pakistani politician from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He has been serving as the 15th Prime Minister of AJK since April 2023, succeeding Sardar Tanveer Ilyas.
Early Life and Family of Anwar ul Haq
Anwar was born in Bhimber, Azad Kashmir, into a politically influential Jat family. His father, Chaudhry Suhbat Ali, played a significant role in the 1947 Poonch rebellion that led to the liberation of Azad Kashmir from Dogra rule. His brother, Lt. General (Retd.) Chaudhary Ikram ul Haq, served as Pakistan’s Defence Secretary from 2018 to 2020.
Political Career
Anwar began his political journey by winning a seat in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly during the 2006 general elections. Representing the People’s Muslim League, he defeated Chaudhry Tariq Farooq from the LA-7 Bhimber-III constituency.
In August 2010, Anwar was elected Speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, succeeding Shah Ghulam Qadir of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC).
He contested the 2011 general election from the same constituency as a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate but lost to Chaudhry Tariq Farooq of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N). Similarly, he ran as an independent candidate in the 2016 elections but was again defeated by Farooq.
Anwar made a strong comeback in the 2021 general election, this time as a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate. He received 38,308 votes, defeating Chaudhry Tariq Farooq once more. On August 3, 2021, he was re-elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, securing 32 votes against Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore of the PPP.
On April 20, 2023, Anwar was elected unopposed as the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, receiving 48 votes in the 52-member Legislative Assembly. His election followed the disqualification of his predecessor, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, eight days earlier.
Expulsion from PTI
Anwar’s affiliation with the PTI came to an abrupt end on September 7, 2023, when the party expelled him along with other political dissidents. The expulsion was linked to his opposition to Imran Khan’s preferred candidate, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi.
Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq’s political career reflects his resilience and adaptability, navigating multiple party affiliations and electoral challenges to emerge as a key leader in AJK.
List of PM of Azad Kashmir
Below is a table format detailing the Prime Ministers of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including key attributes such as serial number, name, father’s name, constituency and city, term in office, political affiliation, and family background.
| S.No. | Prime Minister Name | Father’s Name | Constituency and City | Term in Office | Political Party | Family/Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khan Abdul Hamid Khan | Unknown | Muzaffarabad | 1975–1977 | Pakistan Muslim Conference (PMC) | First PM of AJK; established initial governance structure. |
| 2 | Sardar Muhammad Hayat Khan | Unknown | Kotli | 1977–1985 | Independent | A political leader with significant tribal influence. |
| 3 | Khawaja Muhammad Azam | Unknown | Mirpur | 1985–1990 | Muslim Conference | Contributed to early political reforms in AJK. |
| 4 | Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan | Sardar Fateh Khan | Kotli | 1991–1996, 2001–2006 | Muslim Conference (later PML-N) | Served two terms; focused on regional development. |
| 5 | Barrister Sultan Mehmood | Unknown | Mirpur | 1996–2001 | Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) | Notable lawyer; later became AJK President. |
| 6 | Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan | Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan | Bagh | 2006–2009, 2010–2011 | Muslim Conference | Son of Abdul Qayyum Khan; served two terms. |
| 7 | Raja Farooq Haider Khan | Raja Haider Khan | Muzaffarabad | 2009–2010, 2016–2021 | Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) | Advocated for stronger AJK autonomy; served two terms. |
| 8 | Chaudhry Abdul Majeed | Unknown | Mirpur | 2011–2016 | Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) | Known for advocating public welfare initiatives. |
| 9 | Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi | Unknown | Poonch | 2021–2022 | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) | Short tenure due to political turmoil. |
| 10 | Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan | Unknown | Bagh | 2022–2023 | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) | Disqualified; focus on infrastructure projects. |
| 11 | Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq | Chaudhry Suhbat Ali | Bhimber | 2023–Present | Independent (ex-PTI) | Politically active family; father part of 1947 Poonch Rebellion. |
Current Governor of Azad Kashmir
There is no governor of Azad Kashmir. Whereas, Azad Kashmir is not a province and is not under the complete administrative control of Pakistan. It is run by the independent Prime Minister and President. Moreover, there is a separate judicial system, and AJK has its own constitution. So, there is no current governor of Azad Kashmir (AJK). This post of governor is for the province, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir is not a province. It is a state that is running its affairs under the administrative control of the state of Pakistan.
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