All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference

The All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference is a major political party of Azad Kashmir.

History

The All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference was founded as a political party in August 1932 in Srinagar. Prominent amongst the participants were Sardar Gohar Rehman, Chaudhry Ghulam Abbass,Syed Muhammad Habib Ullha Shah Zia (Shorash e Jabbali) Khwaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, Shaikh Yaqoob Ali Mistry, Sardar Fateh Muhammed Khan Karelavi, Sheikh Ghulam Qadir, and Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. Sardar Gohar Rehman favoured the formation of a Provincial Muslim Conference in Jammu, but he was prevailed upon by the others to accept an All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference.

To unite Kashmiri Muslims on a common platform was an enormous task in the wake of the deep variance in the political thinking of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah and Mir Waiz Mohammed Yusuf Shah who parted ways towards the end of the first session.

Inaugural session

In the aftermath of the gatherings in the last week of August 1932, in the Pathar Masjid (Stone Mosque) of Srinagar, attended by well over sixty thousand Muslims, the dates for the First Session of the Muslim Conference were scheduled for 15 October to 17 October 1932, at the same venue. The time frame was later extended to four days. Elaborate arrangements were made with a 15-foot-high (4.6 m) stage to accommodate the members of the Reception Committee, 200 delegates and one thousand visitors. Loudspeakers were installed at various places and the stage was canopied with a colourful shamiana. Thousands of enthusiasts were present in the gallery and on the floor. The area surrounding the stage was packed to capacity and according to one estimate the crowd was numbered to be around three lakhs (300,000).

The session commenced on the afternoon of 15 October, with Khawaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai speaking on behalf of the Reception Committee, highlighting the purposes of the establishment of the Muslim Conference, and emphasising that its members were loyal to the state. In his presidential address, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, while appreciating the Glancy Commission's recommendations, bitterly criticised its non implementation by the administration and demanded withdrawal of ordinances in the Mirpur District and called for freedom of the Press and free use of the political platform. He criticised the setup of the proposed constituent assembly and demanded restoration of the just rights of the people of Poonch.

To analyse the various proposals under consideration and classify the propositions, three sub-committees comprising about 50 members were formed. During the course of the session, ten propositions were presented and accepted by the committees. The constitution of the Muslim Conference was passed and Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was elected as the President, Sheikh Abdul Majeed (Advocate) as Vice President, and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbass as General Secretary. Four Secretaries were elected, including Maulvi Abdur Rahim Vakeel, Mian Ahmed Yar, Abdul Hakeem, and Ghulam Ahmad Ashai. In his concluding address, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah stressed the need for unity and amity in a cordial atmosphere. After hectic activity spread over five days, the Inaugural session of the Muslim Conference ended on a happy note and peaceful dispersion of the participants. One criticism about the session is that the main objectives before it were sidelined and those with a lesser propinquity were dealt with. Notwithstanding the drawbacks of the convention, it was the greatest achievement towards the emancipation and unification of a people on one political platform after centuries of persecution and oppression by the Hindu Maharajas and the British.

Renaming the Muslim segment of the party

The original party was renamed the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference in 1939 to suit the secular nature of Kashmiri culture. The party espoused a secular ideology and wished to create a secular, democratic, independent Kashmir with close ties to India.

At this point the Muslim leaders amended the Constitution of the Muslim Conference, renamed it the All Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, modified its objectives, and threw its membership open to all the people of the State. On 13 June 1941, breakaway factions of the National Conference revived the Muslim Conference under the leadership of Choudry Ghualm Abbas.

The All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference led the Muslim movement for accession to Pakistan in the State. On 19 July 1947, a convention of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference adopted the "Accession to Pakistan Resolution" demanding accession of the Kashmir state to Pakistan.

In 1955 the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference was the political party in power in Azad Kashmir, and is still an important force in the politics of the region.

Presidents of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference

1. Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah (deceased)
2. Rais-ul-Ahrar Quaid e Millat Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas (deceased)
3. Mian Ahmed Yar Kahn (deceased)
4. Mir Waiz Kashmir Muhammad Yousuf Shah (deceased)
5. Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan
6. Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan (deceased)
7. Raja Muhammad Haider Khan (deceased)
8. Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan
9. Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan (President, All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference Prime Minister, Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir)