Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan, an inspiring leader, an able administrator, an experienced and dynamic politician, an elderly statesman, and an eminent scholar is an arch personality behind the liberation history of Jammu & Kashmir since 1947.
He was born in village Ghazi Abad in district Bagh of Azad Jammu & Kashmir State on April 4,1924, in a middle class family inheriting strong religious & military background. After completing the last phase of education at High School Poonch, the young Sardar was prompted by his inner urge to display capabilities in an adventurous career. This urge was motivated by his early day discipline that he had acquainted himself within the company of his father, who had served in British army.
SARDAR MUHAMMD ABDUL QAYYUM KHAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE: Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan had himself joined the army during second world war and had first hand experience of fighting in active warfare.
In those days the tyranny and oppression all around in the state by the Dogra rulers made Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan restless and uneasy. He started holding public meetings attempting at removing the hundred of years old fear from the mind of the People.
It was on his prompting that the people refused to pay the excessive taxes to the government. The Dogra rulers launched a big hunt for his arrest, offering high cash rewards but the dauntless spirit of determined resistance could not deter him from pursing his mission of final liberation of the Jammu and Kashmir form the Dogra clutches. His campaign finally brought the results long awaited by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who were otherwise so terrified that no one dared utter a word against the rulers.
On August 14, 1947 Pakistan became an Independent State. There were many demonstrations and meetings in Poonch in favour of Kashmir joining Pakistan. Martial Law was already imposed and meetings fired on in Poonch as the Maharaja government wanted to deny the imperative of Kahmiris. On August 23, 1947 Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan called a meeting at the strategic mountain top known as "Neelabut" District Poonch.
The meeting was presided by Syed Shamshad Hussain Shah (Sohawa Sharif). Syed Muzaffar Hussain Nadvi, Sardar Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Sadiq Hussain Shah Adil and Ghazi Muhammad Ismaeel also addressed. Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan announced that:
"We are starting Jehad against Dogra rulers from today. Now we will obey only Quranic Laws instead of Dogra Law from today. If Maharaja embraces Islam and declares accession of Kashmir with Pakistan, we will stop Jehad."
Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan started the armed struggle against Dogra rulers. He commanded about six battalions during the war 32,000 square mile area was liberated in 15 months of freedom struggle.
The freedom struggle led by Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan was unique in history of the world. At that time there was no organised army, there was no outside support of any kind and internal support like ammunition, communication or financial resources.
This Jehad was started with the arms and ammunition captured from the Dogra army. Although resources were limited but this was a properly organised movement because of the will of Kashmiris under the charismatic leadership of Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan.
The other important aspect of this war of liberation was that it was not the kind of fight which is generally called war but it was characterised the true spirit of Jehad as embodied in the scriptures and in the conduct and discipline of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). This was unique accomplishment in the given circumstances and history has yet to produce another example like it. During the war Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan gave all the protection to the lives and honour of the Hindu captive.
The example of Islamic traditions manifested by Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan was unique and was also eulogised by Mrs Tuker of the American Peace Society who had come all the way to help in the evacuation the those captives from Azad Kashmir. During this 15 months Jehad Mujahid-e-Awwal protected the life and honour of unarmed non-Muslims. Their property was also protected.
It is a historic fact that Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan organised and led the armed revolt against the Maharaja for the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir. It was because of this pioneer role as a commander of freedom movement that he earned the title of "Mujahid-Awwal" by the people of Kashmir and all historians and writers.
About the origin of this revolt and fifteen months freedom struggle many international and national scholars and writers like Richard Symond, Josef Kortbel, Lord Bird Wood, Mulvi Amir Alam Khan, Abu Salman Fazal Elahi, Bashir Jaffari, Syed Mahmood Azad, Dr Sarwar Abbasi, and many writers admitted the fact that Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan led the armed revolt against Maharaja to achieve the objective of liberation of Kashmir and its accession to Pakistan. Mr Richard Symond Member UN Mission of India and Pakistan expressed his views on this situation as quoted by Joseph Korbel in his book "danger in Kashmir" (Page 22).
"On August 27 in Neelabut, Abdul Qayyum, a young zamindar, started the revolt with a few friends. Substantial men told me that they would never have joined such a rash enterprise but for the folly of the Dogras who burnt whole villages where only a single family was involved in a revolt. Rapidly most of the Muslims ex-Servicemen joined Qayyum and in six weeks the whole district except for Poonch city itself was in rebel hands."
Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan is a man of principle and a profound ideological commitment. He is an institution in himself and his ideology is best manifested in his slogan "Kashmir Banega Pakistan". He remained a leader, a warrior and administrator in the history of Jammu & Kashmir. He has been both the President and Prime Minister of state many times. Today the peace, stability, religious harmony, solidarity prevalent in Kashmir is because of his ideology, struggle and preachings.
Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan is a dedicated leader, a sagacious politician and above all a true and devoted Muslim. His political acumen is recognised not just in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir but also at the international level. As a strong advocate of Kashmir's accession to Pakistan he has contributed to the political progress and well-being of the country. Our struggle will continue till reedom of Kashmir and its accession to Pakistan.
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