MUZAFFARABAD: An eight-member committee was set up by the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday to make arrangement for the 28th death anniversary of Khurshid Hassan Khurshid, a distinguished leader who dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom of Kashmir and promotion of democratic norms in the region.

Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed set up a committee to make arrangements for observance of the death anniversary of the Quaid-i-Azam’s right-hand man and renowned leader of the Kashmir freedom movement, Khurshid-i-Millat Khurshid Hassan Khurshid, in a befitting manner on March 11, read a handout.

The committee, which includes two ministers and the deputy speaker of AJK assembly, held a meeting to finalise arrangements for the event, it added.

Deputy Speaker Shaheen Kausar Dar told Dawn that the Pakistan People’s Party government had decided to officially observe death anniversaries of national leaders regardless of their political ideologies.

Friday’s event, she said, would be a humble attempt to pay homage to Mr Khurshid for his exceptional services, both at home and abroad, for Kashmir.

Mr Khurshid was 20-years old when Mr Jinnah hired him as his private secretary during a visit to Srinagar in 1944. He held the position till Mr Jinnah’s death in 1948.

In May 1959, Mr Khursid was appointed AJK president and two years after that he conducted the first elections in AJK.

Mr Khurshid died in a road accident on March 11, 1988, while travelling in a public transport vehicle. He is buried in Muzaffarabad.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2016