Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry (Urdu: سلطان محمود چوہدری; 9 August 1955 – 31 January 2026) was an Azad Kashmiri politician who hailed from Mirpur. He served as Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir between July 1996 to July 2001 and served as the President of Azad Kashmir from 25 August 2021 until his death on 31 January 2026.[2][3]
Early life
Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry was born on 9 August 1955.[4] He was the son of the late Kashmiri leader Chaudhary Noor Hussain who also founded Azad Muslim Conference along with Sardar Ibrahim Khan but after Sardar Ibrahim Khan left the party, he led it alone. He belonged to a Jatt family and his family had contributions in the movement for a free Jammu and Kashmir. He had also been a member of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.[5][3]
Political career
In the second elections in Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed, Chaudhry Khadim Hussain and Chaudhry Yasin won. Then Sultan Mehmood merged his party with the Liberation League and became its president. Later, he left that party and joined Pakistan People’s Party and became president of its Azad Kashmir chapter. Then he became Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He faced some problems in the PPP which led to him quitting the party. He then founded his own party People’s Muslim League in 2005 and his party won 5 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Later, when Benazir Bhutto addressed the issue, he (Sultan Mehmood) apologised and was allowed to join the party again. He rejoined the Pakistan People’s Party again but won no seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
Chaudhry joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on 6 February 2015[3] and lost the elections for the first time in 25 years on 21 July 2016.[6]
On 24 November 2019, he became a Member of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in the by-elections in Mirpur.
He was elected as the President of Azad Kashmir on 17 August 2021.[5]
Death
On 31 January 2026, Chaudhry died in Islamabad at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness.[7][8] The Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir announced a three-day mourning over his death.[9] He was given a state funeral with his funeral prayer offered at the Quaid-e-Azam Stadium in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.[10]
References
- ^ a b “Barrister Sultan heads back to PPP”. DAWN. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ “Former Prime Ministers of Azad Kashmir”. Government of Azad Kashmir. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ a b c “Former AJK PM joins PTI”. Dawn (newspaper). 6 February 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ Naqash, Tariq (1 February 2026). “Sultan Mahmood passes away at 70”. Dawn. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ^ a b “PTI’s Barrister Sultan Mahmood elected AJK president”. Dawn (newspaper). 17 August 2021.
- ^ Khurram Shahzad (21 July 2016). “PML-N candidate defeats PTI AJK president Barrister Sultan Mahmood”. Daily Pakistan (newspaper). Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ “AJK President Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry passes away at 71”. Dawn. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
- ^ Naqash, Tariq (2 February 2026). “AJK president laid to rest with state honours”. Dawn.
- ^ “Azad Kashmir observes three days of mourning after death of Sultan Mahmood”. Aaj English TV. 1 February 2026.
- ^ Mir, M. A. (1 February 2026). “AJK President Sultan Mahmood laid to rest with state, military honours”. The Express Tribune.
