The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, who passed away on Saturday after a prolonged illness, was laid to rest on Sunday in his ancestral graveyard with the prestigious gun carriage honor. He has become the first Kashmiri leader and the fifth personality in Pakistan’s history to be laid to rest with the prestigious gun carriage honor.
This rare honor places the late president in the ranks of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, former military chief General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi, and public health pioneer Dr. Ruth Pfau.
Barrister Chaudhry was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard with full state and military honors. A guard of honor was presented to the deceased during the final rites.
His funeral prayer was offered at the Quaid-e-Azam Stadium in Mirpur, which was attended by a very large number of people. The attendees included former presidents and prime ministers, members of the legislative assembly, and high-ranking military, civil, and political figures.
The atmosphere of the ceremony was somber, and many mourners were tearful. Tributes were paid to him for his extensive political and diplomatic services for the Kashmir cause, and prayers were offered for his forgiveness.
After the burial, the national flag was formally presented to his son, government minister Chaudhry Yasir Sultan, as a final ceremonial act.