Poonch District (AJK)

Infobox Pakistan district
district = Poonch
area = 855
population = 459,000
pop_year = 1998
density = 548
caption =
region = Azad Kashmir
established =
nazim =
naib_nazim =
seats =
tehsils =
languages =
website =

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Poonch is one of the eight districts of Azad Kashmir (the area of Kashmir administered by Pakistan). Poonch district itself has been divided between Pakistan and India.

The capital of the district is Rawalakot with the Sudhan tribe being the dominant group in the district. This region has produced numerous business, political and military leaders.

History

From the end of seventeenth century up to 1837 CE, Poonch was ruled by the Muslim Rajas of Loran in Tehsil Haveli. It then fell into the hands of Raja Faiztalab Khan of Rajuri to whom it was handed over by the Punjab Government. Poonch was included in the transfer of the hilly country to Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1848. Before this transfer, Poonch was considered a district of Lahore. Maharaja Gulab Singh granted Chibal, Poonch and other areas to Jawaharr Singh and Moiti Singh. The Raja of Poonch had to present to the Maharaja of, what is now known as Jammu and Kashmir, one horse with gold trappings. The Raja of Poonch was not to effect any administrative changes in the territory of Poonch without previous consultation with the Maharaja of Kashmir.

Partition of Poonch

After independence in 1947, Pakistan and India fought a war over Kashmir, as a result of this war Poonch was split between the two nations. Prior to division of Poonch, the only high school in the district was in the city of Poonch (this city is now forms the capital of Indian Poonch).

Prominent figures from Poonch

This region has produced numerous business, political and military leaders, including:

*Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan - the Founder and President of Azad Kashmir.

*Shaikh Ghulam Ahmad of Rawalakot an educator and philanthropist.
*General (Retd.) Muhammad Aziz Khan, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, Pakistan Army.
*Maj. General(Retd.) M. Rahim Khan, former Secretary General Defence, Former Ambassador of Pakistan in Malaysia and Mozambique, former Governor of Sindh, former Chairman Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Chrome Mines Ltd.

*M. Rashid Khan, the former Chairman of Pakistan Banking Council and former Executive Director of Asian Development Bank.
*Sabir Hussain Sabir International Award winning poet & writer,Author of Dasht-e-Tanhai,Hajir kay baad,And Look out.
*Colonel Khan Muhammad Khan liberator of Mirpur in 1947.
*Maj General(Retd)Muhammad Hayat Khan.
*Lt Col Muhammad Gulzar Khan of Androte.

*Lt. Col. Tassadaq Hussain Khan, the former Chief of the Army of the Sultanate of Oman

* Sardar Humair Tariq
*Sardar Khalid Ibrahim

*Maj. General M Anwar Khan
*Dr. Asif Mehmood, PhD. A scientist from Poonch Azad Kashmir, currently in USA..

External links

* [http://www.Rawalakotak.com Rawalkot website]
* [http://www.ajk.gov.pk Official website of the Government of Azad Kashmir] ----

Virtual Tour of Poonch