How Major General Hayat Khan Changed AJK

Major General Hayat Khan – The political history of Azad Jammu and Kashmir contains many defining moments, but few periods remain as debated as the accountability drive launched under Brigadier Hayat Khan’s administration between 1977 and 1983. For many, it was a time of administrative reform, political confrontation and institutional experimentation. For former senior civil servant Syed Muhammad Akram Shah, it was a period he witnessed from the very centre of government.

In an exclusive interview with The Kashmir Link, Akram Shah offers a rare insider’s perspective on how he came to work directly with Brigadier Hayat Khan, the establishment of the Accountability Cell, and the political tensions that shaped Azad Kashmir during those years.

An Unexpected Selection

Akram Shah recalls that shortly after Brigadier Hayat Khan assumed office as Chief Executive, he conducted a routine inspection of the Secretariat. During the visit, he briefly stopped at Shah’s office, asked about his responsibilities and left without any indication of future plans.

Only a few days later, the Law Secretary received formal instructions transferring Akram Shah to the Chief Executive’s Secretariat.

According to Shah, Brigadier Hayat Khan later explained that the appointment was the result of extensive consultations and background inquiries. After seeking opinions from multiple sources, Hayat Khan concluded that Shah possessed the qualities required for a sensitive assignment that demanded integrity, discretion and administrative competence.

Establishing the Accountability Cell

Soon after his appointment, Akram Shah was entrusted with managing what became one of the most significant institutions of that period—the Accountability Cell.

New legislation empowered the government to investigate allegations against former presidents, prime ministers, ministers, members of the Legislative Assembly and government officials.

Special commissions, generally comprising senior military officers and experienced civil servants, were established to examine complaints received from across the region. The Accountability Cell coordinated the entire process, scrutinising complaints before forwarding them to the commissions for hearings and final recommendations.

Shah explains that the workload required dedicated staff, including police personnel and administrative officers, as investigations expanded across Azad Kashmir.

Major General Hayat Khan – A Delicate Balance

The accountability campaign inevitably attracted criticism.

One of Shah’s respected elders questioned why he had become involved in inquiries against political leaders and warned that future governments might seek revenge.

Shah maintains that his role was purely institutional rather than political.

He argues that all political groups were treated equally and that he simply implemented responsibilities assigned under the law, without favouring or targeting any individual or party.

Major General Hayat Khan – High-Profile Investigations

Among the most closely watched proceedings was the inquiry involving former President Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan.

A commission headed by Chief Justice Sardar Sharif examined the allegations. During the proceedings, speculation suggested that disqualification was likely.

However, when the commission finally announced its verdict, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan was acquitted.

According to Shah, the outcome surprised many observers and reportedly disappointed sections of the administration that had anticipated a different result.

The episode demonstrated that, despite political expectations, judicial commissions retained significant independence in reaching their conclusions.

The Ghaziabad Road Blockade

Shah also recalls one of the most dramatic political confrontations of the era.

While Brigadier Hayat Khan was travelling to Bagh to attend a commemorative event, supporters of Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan blocked the road near Ghaziabad, bringing traffic to a standstill for miles.

By coincidence, Chief Justice Sardar Sharif was also travelling through the area.

Leaving his official vehicle, the Chief Justice walked to the protest site and instructed that the road be reopened immediately, arguing that ordinary citizens—including women and children—should not suffer because of a political dispute.

Following his intervention, the blockade ended, allowing traffic to resume. Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan was later arrested elsewhere under government orders.

Major General Hayat Khan’s Leadership

Despite political controversies, Akram Shah describes Brigadier Hayat Khan as an exceptionally hardworking administrator.

He recalls that Hayat Khan often worked until two o’clock in the morning before resuming official duties soon after dawn.

According to Shah, the Chief Executive travelled extensively, visiting remote areas where even lower-level government officials had rarely ventured. Although financial resources were limited, his administration prioritised roads, link roads and infrastructure projects across Azad Kashmir.

Shah also credits him with attempting to maintain impartiality in governance.

However, he believes that, over time, flatterers surrounding the Chief Executive convinced him that he enjoyed sufficient public popularity to enter electoral politics after retirement—a development Shah suggests may have altered perceptions of his administration.

Major General Hayat Khan – Remembering K.H. Khurshid

The interview concludes with touching recollections of K.H. Khurshid, one of Azad Kashmir’s most respected political figures.

Shah remembers Khurshid as remarkably humble despite having served as President.

He recounts how Khurshid once jokingly described himself as being administratively subordinate to Shah because legislative business passed through the Law Department.

Perhaps the most poignant story concerns Khurshid’s final journey.

According to Shah, Khurshid declined the offer of a private vehicle and instead travelled on public transport, reportedly unwilling to burden others with the cost of fuel. He later died in a road accident near Gujranwala. It was said that only seventeen rupees were found in his pocket—a story that has become symbolic of his personal honesty and modest lifestyle.

A Valuable Historical Record

More than four decades later, Syed Muhammad Akram Shah’s recollections provide a rare glimpse into one of the most consequential periods in Azad Kashmir’s administrative history.

His testimony does not simply recount political events; it offers insight into the workings of government, the relationship between civil servants and political leaders, and the institutional challenges of accountability during a transformative era.

For students of Kashmir’s political history, these first-hand memories add an important perspective to the historical record and invite renewed discussion about governance, justice and public service in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.