rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK), November 8: Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Zulqarnain Khan was laid to rest with full state honours at his native village of Kasguma in Bhimber district on Sunday.
He passed away on Saturday following a brief illness.
Thousands of mourners attended his funeral prayers, including AJK President Dr. Najeeb Naqi Khan, Supreme Court Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan, Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, former presidents and prime ministers, senior civil and military officials, political leaders and people from different walks of life.
Following the funeral prayers, police presented a guard of honour in recognition of his services. The state flag was flown at half-mast across Azad Jammu and Kashmir as the government observed a one-day mourning.
Addressing the gathering, political leaders and former government officials paid tribute to Raja Zulqarnain Khan, recalling his five-decade political career and contributions to the political and public life of Azad Kashmir.
The speakers described him as a dignified, courteous and politically farsighted leader, saying his death was a major loss for the state and the nation.
Among those attending were former AJK prime ministers Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas and Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, along with former president Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan and other prominent personalities.
Mourners offered Fateha for the departed soul and expressed condolences to his son Raja Babar Ali Zulqarnain and other family members. Raja Babar Ali thanked the participants for sharing the family’s grief.
The district administration, police and relevant departments made security and traffic arrangements to facilitate the large gathering.
Ex AJK President Raja Zulqarnain Khan laid to rest with full state honours;
