MUZAFFARABAD: Former president and prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan has passed away, his family confirmed on Saturday.
According to details, the AJK president was reportedly hospitalised and under treatment for a heart ailment. He holds the distinction of being appointed AJK’s president and also serving as the prime minister twice.
Earlier this year, Khan had ended his association with the PML-N and rejoined the Muslim Conference (MC). Khan was among the pioneers of the PML-N in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his heartfelt condolences over the demise of Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan. “Saddened to learn of the passing of Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan,” he wrote on Twitter.
Saddened to learn of the passing of Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, former President of AJK as well as former PM of AJK. His contribution to the Kashmir cause & service to the Kashmiri people were invaluable. My prayers & condolences go to his family.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 9, 2021
“His contribution to the Kashmir cause and service to the Kashmiri people were invaluable. My prayers and condolences go to his family,” the premier added.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry expressed grief, noting that Khan had raised his voice against Indian oppression in occupied Kashmir. “Khan was a righteous and principled politician”, the information minister added in a statement.
Speaker of National Assembly Asad Qaiser also acknowledged the efforts of the deceased, saying, “The services of Sikandar Hayat Khan will always be remembered. May Allah Almighty elevate the ranks of the deceased and grant patience to his family to bear this irreparable loss.”
سابق وزیر اعظم و صدر آزاد کشمیر سردار سکندر حیات خان کی وفات پر دکھ اور افسوس ہوا۔ سکندر حیات خان کی خدمات کو ہمیشہ یاد رکھا جائے گا۔اللہ تعالیٰ مرحوم کے درجات بلند فرماۓ اور سوگوار خاندان کو اس ناقابل تلافی نقصان کو برداشت کرنے کے لیے صبر وجمیل عطاء فرماۓ۔ pic.twitter.com/AZgvQnCwOi
— Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) October 9, 2021
Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Afridi also expressed grief, saying he was “shocked to hear the news of the death of senior politician Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan.”
اناللہ واناالیہ راجعون
ایک عہد تھا جوتمام ہوا-
سابق صدر و وزیراعظم آزاد جموں وکشمیر بزرگ سیاستدان سردارسکندر حیات خان صاحب کے انتقال کی خبر سن کر صدمہ ہوا، سردار سکندرحیات کی تحریک آزادی اور آزاد کشمیر کی عوام کیلئےخدمات کو ہمیشہ یاد رکھا جائے گا.
اللہ پاک مرحوم کی مغفرت فرمائے pic.twitter.com/TYRsnnIb5c— Shehryar Afridi (@ShehryarAfridi1) October 9, 2021
