Mukhtar Ahmed Waza

Mukhtar Ahmed Waza, commonly known as Mukhtar Waza, is a moderate Kashmiri separatist leader. He is Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir People's League (JKPL), a constituent of APHC and political faction banned by the government of India. It is one the first organizations associated with Kashmiri passive resistance movement. Waza is also an executive council member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (Mirwaiz Faction).

Early life Waza was born in Jammu and Kashmir, India on 2 June 1968. He attended Government Middle School in Sarnal, Anantnag. Due to his affiliation with the People's League (JKPL), he was imprisoned at the age of 16.

Political career

Waza began his political career in 1982 at the age of 14, leading a peaceful demonstration in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. His activism resulted in his arrest and subsequent detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 (PSA) for a period of three years. In 1986, he was again detained for one year under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). He, along with the JKPL activists, were arrested on several occasions, including in March 1992. After the death of Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Waza became the chairman of Peoples League and executive member of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was re-elected as chairman in 2013. Waza has been involved in talks at highest level of government both in India and Pakistan including visiting Pakistan on an official diplomatic trip and meeting Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, President Asif Ali Zardari. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in 2012 other leaders include Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Syed Munawar Hussain and Liaqat Baloch. Waza also met several international and national delegations too including meeting Pak high commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi several times and Ram Jethmalani as part of the Kashmir Committee in 2011. Over his 40 year long period of political struggle he has nearly spent 10 years in several jails across India. Waza has been closely associated with Abdul Gani Bhat from 1986 to 2025 till he died, Waza termed Bhat as his father like figure who taught him almost all pillars of life.

Personal life In 2004, Waza married a Kashmiri woman in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. The couple have two sons.