President of Azad Kashmir explained

Post:President
Body:Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Insignia:AzadKashmirSeal.png
Insigniacaption:Seal of the government
Flag:Flag of Azad Kashmir.svg
Flagcaption:State flag of the Azad Kashmir
Incumbent:Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry
Incumbentsince:25 August 2021
Department:Government of Azad Kashmir
Style:
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
Termlength:5 years; renewable
Constituting Instrument:Interim Constitution of Azad Kashmir
Precursor:Monarch of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir
Inaugural: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

The president of Azad Kashmir (Urdu:, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ImageNameTook officeLeft officeParty
1Sardar Ibrahim Khan24 October 194712 May 1950All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
2Ali Ahmed Shah13 May 19504 Dec 1951Military
3Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah5 Dec 195120 May 1952All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]Raja Haydar Khan (interim)18 May 195221 Jun 1952-
4Sher Ahmed Khan21 Jun 195230 May 1956Military
5Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah (2)30 May 19568 Sep 1956All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
6Sardar Abdul Qayyum8 Sep 195613 Apr 1957All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
7Sardar Ibrahim Khan (2)13 Apr 195730 Apr 1959All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
8Khurshid Hasan Khurshid1 May 19597 Aug 1964Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League
9Abdul Hamid Khan7 Aug 19647 Oct 1969-
[A]Abdul Rahman Khan (interim)7 Oct 196930 Oct 1970Military
10Sardar Abdul Qayyum (2)30 Oct 197016 Apr 1975All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]Sheikh Manzar Masaud (interim)16 Apr 19755 Jun 1975
11Sardar Ibrahim Khan (3)5 Jun 1975 30 Oct 1978Azad Muslim Conference
12Muhammad Hayat Khan30 Oct 19781 Feb 1983Military
13Abdul Rahman Khan1 Feb 19831 Oct 1985Military
14Sardar Abdul Qayyum (3)1 Oct 198520 Jul 1991All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
15Muhammad Ishaq Zaffar20 Jul 199129 Jul 1991Pakistan Peoples Party
[A]Abdul Rashid Abbasi (interim)29 Jul 199112 Aug 1991-
16Sardar Sikandar Hayat12 Aug 199112 May 1996All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]Abdul Rashid Abbasi (interim)12 May 199622 May 1996-
17Sardar Sikandar Hayat (2)23 May 199611 Aug 1996All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
[A]Abdul Rashid Abbasi (interim)11 Aug 199625 Aug 1996-
18Sardar Ibrahim Khan (4)25 Aug 199625 Aug 2001
19Sardar Anwar Khan25 Aug 200125 Aug 2006All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
20Raja Zulqarnain Khan25 Aug 200625 Aug 2011All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
21Sardar Yaqoob Khan25 Aug 201125 Aug 2016Pakistan Peoples Party
22Masood Khan25 Aug 201625 Aug 2021Pakistan Muslim League (N)
23Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry25 Aug 2021[4] PresentPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

See also

Notes

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External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . 22 May 2017 . 26 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190226211113/https://www.ajk.gov.pk/president.php . dead .
  2. http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Pakistan.htm#Azad-Kashmir World Statesmen: Azad Kashmir
  3. Web site: Official Website of the Planning and Development Department of the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir . 24 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170405225014/http://pndajk.gov.pk/ajk_glance2007.asp#G . 5 April 2017 . dead .
  4. News: PTI's Barrister Sultan Mahmood elected AJK president. 25 August 2021. Dawn (newspaper).