Sadhotra Mourns Demise of Qamar Ali Akhoon, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah; Assembly Pays Tribute | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Friday expressed profound grief over the demise of veteran leaders Qamar Ali Akhoon and Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah, describing their passing as a deep personal loss and a major setback to the political and social landscape of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

In a tribute, Sadhotra recalled the contributions of the two former ministers, saying both devoted their entire political careers to public service and to strengthening the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference at the grassroots level. He said they carved out a special place for themselves through sincerity, humility and commitment to the values nurtured by the party.

Sadhotra said Akhoon and Shah left an indelible mark as mass-oriented leaders who combined administrative acumen with deep sensitivity towards public issues. “They were leaders endowed with rare qualities of both head and heart. Their understanding of governance was rooted in compassion, and their politics was guided by the genuine concerns of the common man,” he said.

Recalling his association with them during their ministerial tenures, Sadhotra said the bond they shared went beyond political alignment. “As colleagues in the ministry, we enjoyed a special camaraderie. I was deeply impressed by their disciplined approach, clarity of thought and unflinching sense of responsibility towards public welfare. They believed that power was not a privilege but a trust reposed by the people,” he added.

He said both leaders consistently stood for inclusive development and social harmony and played a pivotal role in nurturing the party’s connect with the people across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Their leadership, he said, inspired younger generations within the party to uphold the ideals of service, sacrifice and integrity.

Describing their demise as a great loss to the political life of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in general, and to the National Conference in particular, Sadhotra said the void created by their passing would be difficult to fill. He conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

Akhoon (68), who was co-chairman of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, passed away at Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, after a prolonged illness. Born on August 15, 1957, in Sangrah village near Kargil, he began his political career in the 1980s and was first elected to the Assembly in 1987 from Kargil. He later served as Minister of State for Works and Power and went on to become the first Chief Executive Councillor and Chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, after its formation.

He was re-elected to the Assembly in 2008 and inducted into the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in October 2009 as Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and Transport. In 2014, he was appointed adviser to the Chief Minister while serving as MLA from Kargil. His body was flown to Kargil for last rites.

Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah (76), a former Forest Minister, also passed away in Jammu following prolonged illness. He had won from Qazigund constituency in the 1987 elections and later served as Forest Minister. His body was taken to his native Devsar in Kulgam district for last rites.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the demise of both leaders, recalling their contributions towards public welfare and describing them as dedicated public representatives who served with honesty and commitment.

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly also paid tributes to the departed leaders. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather described Akhoon as a down-to-earth politician connected to the people and hailed his contribution to the development of Ladakh. The House observed a two-minute silence in memory of the former ministers.

Chairman Mubarak Gul also paid tributes to Shah during the sitting, with members acknowledging the services rendered by both leaders to the people of the region.