Tanveer Ilyas

Sardar Muhammad Tanveer Ilyas Khan Chughtai (born 15 May 1955) is a Pakistani businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir from 2022 to 2023. A highly influential figure in Azad Kashmir, he is the owner of The Centaurus real estate complex in Islamabad and the Taj Residencia housing project.

Khan joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) around 2021 and was elected to the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly from LA-15 Bagh-II in the 2021 Azad Kashmiri general election. He also served as president of PTI Azad Kashmir from September 2021 to April 2023. Following the 9 May riots, he left the PTI and became a founding member of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), of which he served as president of its AJK chapter from 2023 to 2025. Khan later left the IPP and joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), only to leave the PPP later in 2026 and rejoin the IPP. On 3 July 2026, he was re-appointed as the president of the party's AJK chapter.

Early life He was born on 15 May 1955 in the village of Bangoin near Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, into a political family, since his late uncle Sardar Sagheer Chughtai has been elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from their native constituency.

Business career He is the owner of both The Centaurus, the largest shopping mall in Islamabad, and the Taj Residencia housing project.

Political career He has served as advisor on investment to the Chief Minister of Punjab.

On 18 April 2022, Ilyas was elected as the 14th Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, succeeding Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi, who resigned after the PTI initiated a vote of no confidence against the latter.

Khan served as president of the PTI in Azad Kashmir. On 11 April 2023, Ilyas was disqualified from being a member of the legislative assembly when he was found guilty of contempt of court by the High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Thus, he ceased to hold the office of the AJK prime minister.

He was one of the founding members of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) when it was launched on 8 June 2023, and was appointed as the president of its AJK chapter on 13 August 2023. He quit the IPP on 9 March 2025.

He joined the PPP on 24 June 2025. In July 2026, Khan left the PPP over differences on the distribution of party tickets and rejoined the IPP. Tanveer was later named the president of IPP in Azad Kashmir.

He contested the 2026 Azad Kashmiri general election from LA-15 Bagh-II and LA-25 Neelum-I as a candidate of IPP, but was unsuccessful. From LA-15 Bagh-II, he received 1,220 votes, placing fourth, and was defeated by Ziaul Qamar of PPP. From LA-25 Neelum-I, he received 3,348 votes, placing third, and was defeated by Shah Ghulam Qadir of Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML(N)).

He was also to contest from LA-22 Poonch & Sudhnoti-V as a candidate of IPP, but elections in the constituency were postponed.