MUZAFFARABAD: President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry has said that with the death of Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, Azad Kashmir has been deprived of a great political leader.
Talking to different public delegations in Kotli, he said that Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and his family rendered invaluable services for the cause of Kashmir’s liberation from Indian occupation and its accession to Pakistan.
“The meeting to adopt a resolution for Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, held in Srinagar at the residence of late Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan in July 1947 was attended by father of late Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and my late father”, he said.
Saying that he had a very close relationship with Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, the AJK President said although they both belonged to different parties political variances had never developed into political acrimony between them.
President Sultan vowed to carry forward the mission of Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan to make the Kashmir liberation struggle a success and also pledged to promote the politics of tolerance that Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan demonstrated in the liberated territory during his active political career.
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir National Front (JKNF) has expressed a deep sense of shock over the demise of renowned Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadir Khan and former AJK president and prime minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the National Front spokesman Shafiq-ur-Rehaman while highlighting Dr. A Q Khan’s unprecedented role he played in making Pakistan Muslim world’s first nuclear power, said that Khan would be remembered as a national hero who not only develop the country’s nuclear capability with diligence but also contributed significantly in making the country’s defence invincible.
Paying homage to ex AJK premier Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, the spokesman said that Khan being a strong proponent of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination during his tenure as PM and president of the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had played a vital role in highlighting the Kashmir cause both at national as well as international level.
Extending his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families, Rehman prayed to Allah almighty for grant of eternal peace to the departed souls.
