ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan, former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and president of the Stability Pakistan Party, expressed deep sadness over the passing of Prof Khurshid Ahmed, a founding leader of Jamaat-e-Islami and former senator.
Calling it a significant loss, the former PM said Prof Khurshid Ahmed’s contributions to politics, academia, and literature were immense. As a key figure in Jamaat-e-Islami, Professor Khurshid Ahmed spent his life mentoring and inspiring many with his knowledge and leadership.
Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan praised Prof Khurshid Ahmed’s lasting impact and shared his deepest sympathies with the family.
During this painful moment, he stood with them in grief and prayed that the departed soul would be blessed with eternal peace.
Prof Khurshid Ahmed, a renowned scholar, writer, and unwavering supporter of Kashmir’s freedom struggle, passed away in the UK on Sunday.
A guiding light for the Kashmiri resistance, Professor Ahmed dedicated his life to the cause. The Kashmir Media Service noted that no one from Pakistan contributed more to the Kashmir movement than him.
His work became a cornerstone for the fight for freedom, and his loss leaves a void felt across both Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Born on March 23, 1932, Prof Khurshid Ahmed held a PhD in Economics from the UK’s University of Leicester, where he specialized in Islamic economics. His expertise also shaped Pakistan’s policies during the 1980s, when he served as a key advisor in General Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization initiatives.
The Pakistani government recognized Prof Khurshid Ahmed’s important work by giving him the Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2011, their top civilian honor. In 1990, he’d already received the famous King Faisal Prize for his contributions to Islam.
As Jamaat-e-Islami’s former deputy leader, he worked closely with the party’s founder, Syed Abul A’la Maududi, helping shape its direction for years.
The party’s spokesman shared that Prof Khurshid Ahmed died in Leicester, UK, at 93. With his passing, Pakistan and Kashmir have lost not just a great mind but someone who truly made a difference.
