Historical View and Brief Introduction of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference

• Established in October 1932, at Pathar Masjid, Srinagar (Summer Capital of United Kashmir). • Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah became first President and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas became first Secretary General. • The oldest, most historic and the only political party whose role has been both distinct and positive about the National ideals and aspirations and is the strongest advocate of the cause of accession of the Jammu and Kashmir State to Pakistan. • Participated in all the elections of State Legislative Assembly under Maharaja's Rule, winning 14 out of 21 Muslim Seats during 1934 elections, 19 out of 21 seats during 1938 elections, 21 out of 21 seats in 1939 and 16 out of 21 seats in 1947. • Represented the people of Kashmir at the unique occasion of declaration of Pakistan on 23rd March 1940 at Lahore, Punjab. The Leader of Muslim Conference delegation was given historic opportunity to address the large crowd. • Founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah addressed the 12th annual convention of Muslim Conference in 1944 at Srinagar. • On 27th July 1946, Muslim Conference passed a historic Resolution “Resolution of Free (Azad) Kashmir”. • President of Muslim Conference Ch Ghulam Abbas was nominated by the Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah as His Political Successor. • Before the formal approval of partition of Indian Sub Continent plan by British Government, the Central Executive Committee of Muslim Conference made their historic decision of accession of Kashmir with Pakistan on 19th July 1947, through unanimously approved resolution. • A young, energetic and visionary 22 years old Kashmiri “Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan” led the Movement of Kashmir into a practical phase, who rose in revolt, mobilized the masses, took up arms, challenged the 100 year old well-entrenched Dogra Autocratic Regime and started a movement that resulted in the liberation of 32,000 sq mile of Land (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas – Gilgit Baltistan), for reference purpose one can read Lord Birdwoods's Book “Two Nations and Kashmir” and Joseph Korbel's Book “Danger in Kashmir”. • This young leader later became President of Muslim Conference in 1955 and later on 13 different occasions, President of Azad Kashmir for 4 times and Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir from 1991 to 1996. • Muslim Conference was re-organized at grass root level. • The leadership of Muslim Conference started Kashmir Liberation Movement “KLM” in 1958, that resulted in the arrest of all senior leaders, who remained imprisoned for four months. • President of Muslim Conference Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan visited Great Britain in 1966 for the first time. British media and Kashmiri diaspora was briefed on Kashmir issue and its different options for settlement. • In 1971, Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan as President of Muslim Conference won the general election and became the very first elected President of the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on adult franchise basis under presidential system of the Government. • After the separation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from West Pakistan, Muslim Conference Government initiated many ideological measures to boost up the moral of the Pakistani Nation, such as proclamation of historic slogan that became the very basis for the movement of self-determination, “Kashmir Banega Pakistani – Kashmir will become Pakistan”, Urdu was notified as National Language and Shalwar Kamiz National Dress. • Overseas chapters of Muslim Conference was established in countries, such as UK, USA and Middle East. • In 1975, Muslim Conference President Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan was nominated to the Constituent Council of the Rabita Al-Alam Al Islami and was approved by the Late King of Saudi Arabia King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. • First civilian Government in Azad Kashmir was formed on 24th October 1948, since then till early 1960's all the Presidents of the State of Jammu and Kashmir were either nominated by the General Council or Central Working Committee of the Muslim Conference. • Since the introduction of Parliamentary form of the Government in Azad Kashmir in 1985, Muslim Conference contested all General elections and formed Governments from 1985 to 1990, 1991 to 1996, 2001 to 2006, 2006 to 2011.