Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan

Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan (Urdu: سردار محمد یعقوب خان) is an Azad Kashmiri businessman and politician. He served as the President of Azad Kashmir from 25 August 2011 to 25 August 2016. He also served as the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir from 7 January 2009 to 22 October 2009. Beside politics, Khan is also serving as the Chairman of YK Group of Companies. He has also been a member of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly from July 2001 to August 2011 and from August 2021 to August 2026.

Early life Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan was born in 1953 in the village of Ali Sojal, Rawalakot Tehsil, Azad Kashmir. He belongs to a prominent Sudhan family and is the brother of Late Haji Muhammad Zaman Khan, former MLA and a well-known figure in Azad Kashmir's political and social circles.

Khan received his graduation degree education from Karachi University. He began his political career in Karachi with the Punjabi Pakhtoon Ittehad, an ethnic political party that aimed to promote unity among the Punjabi and Pashtun communities. Later, he joined the Tahreek-e-Amil, an Azad Kashmiri political party, and rose through the ranks to become its senior vice president. Additionally, he was affiliated with the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, a prominent political party in the region.

Political career Khan was elected to the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly from LA-19 Poonch & Sudhnoti-III as a candidate of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC) in the 2001 Azad Kashmiri general election. He resigned from the office on 22 October 2009 to avoid a political controversy in the Legislative Assembly amid a no-confidence motion that was submitted against him. He contested the subsequent prime ministerial election, but was unsuccessful. He received 19 votes and was defeated by Raja Farooq Haider Khan, who received 29 votes.

He was re-elected to the Assembly from LA-19 Poonch & Sudhnoti-III as a candidate of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in the 2011 Azad Kashmiri general election. He defeated Khalid Ibrahim Khan, a candidate and leader of Jammu Kashmir People's Party (JKPP), by around 10,000 votes.

He was elected as the 22nd President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on 25 August 2011 succeeding Raja Zulqarnain Khan. He completed his term on 25 August 2016 and was succeeded by Masood Khan. thumb

Business Khan founded Kashmir Overseas Employment Services (KOES) in 1976 to facilitate the employment of Pakistani workers in the Middle East and other regions. With over 40 years of experience working with global business enterprises, he has been a pioneer in the overseas employment business in Pakistan.

Real Estate Development Khan founded Brother Construction Y-K (Pvt) Ltd., which has developed two successful housing societies:

Al Madina City: Adjacent to Sectors C-18 and C-19 of Islamabad.

Al Makkah City: Adjacent to Gulberg Green and OPF Islamabad.

Manufacturing Kashmir Polypropylene (Pvt) Ltd (KPPL) is a leading enterprise established by Khan, engaged in the production of packing materials and Polypropylene Manufacturing.

Hospitality Khan has also invested in the hospitality sector, founding two hotels in Rawalpindi:

Al Jabbal Hotel

Rex Hotel

In 2007, Khan consolidated his various business ventures under the umbrella of YK Group.