Ajaz Ahmad Khan

Aijaz Ahmad Khan, popularly known as Sher-e-Gool Gulabgarh, is an Indian politician and was a member of the 10th, 11th and 12th Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Gool Arnas constituency.^[1] He served as Minister of various portfolios from 2002 to 2014 in Jammu and Kashmir Govt under the Chief Ministership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah. He also served as Deputy Leader of Congress Legislative Party from 2014 to 2018.^[2] He left Congress and became founding member of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) formed on 8 March 2020. He was also the Vice President of PAC (Political Affairs Committee) and member CWC of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party. Prior to Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir 2024, Khan left Apni Party and contested elections as Independent candidate from Gulabgarh Assembly constituency in which he got defeated and secured runner-up position.Currently, Ajaz Ahmed Khan is also patron of Gujjar Bakerwal Conference (GBC),^[3] a social and political platform, which was founded by his father and veteran leader Haji Buland Khan who established Gujjar Bakerwal Conference in 2000 which has played a crucial role in the upliftment of Gujjar Bakerwal Community.^[4]

Aijaz Ahmad Khan
2007
Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
In office 2002–2020
Constituency	Gool Arnas
Personal details
Born	(1968-11-21) 21 November 1968 (age 56) Thuroo, Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir
Nationality	Indian
Other political affiliations	National Conference (1996-2002) Indian National Congress (2002-2020) Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (2020-August 2024)
Spouse	Farhat-un-nisa Khan
Children	3
Parent	Haji Buland Khan
Relatives	Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali (brother-in-law) (Former cabinet minister), Haji Mumtaz Ahmad Khan (brother) (MLA GulabGarh)
Education	BA LLB
Alma mater	Jammu University
Awards	Bhartiya Gaurav Award, best citizen of India Award

Personal life

Ajaz Ahmad Khan was born on 21 November 1968 in Thuroo, Dharmari to a renowned Gujjar leader Haji Buland Khan from Jammu & Kashmir who held various posts in the state government. Ajaz did his early schooling from Govt. High School, Thuroo located at Reasi. He did his B.A. from Jammu University Jammu. In 1996, he completed his LLB from Jammu University.^[5] He married Farhat Un Nisa Khan in 2003. His younger brother Haji Mumtaz Ahmad Khan was also a member of 12th Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Gulabgarh constituency. His one sister is married to Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali.^[6]

Political career

Ajaz joined politics in 1996 soon after completing LLB. In 1996, he contested elections on the ticket of NC from Gulabgarh assembly and got defeated by as margin of 956 votes only. Then he got appointed as District President of NC from Reasi District, i.e. Udhampur II. In 2002, he again contested as an independent candidate from two assembly segments; Gool Arnas and Gulabgarh and he got victory from Gool Arnas. And thus in 2002, he joined Indian National Congress. Then in 2008 and 2014, he got victory from Gool Arnas.^{[citation needed]}

He remained minister since 2002 up to 2014 in the Govt of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah.^[7][8] He held various departments in the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah Government.^[9][10] He was such an efficient leader that once he had charge of 13 departments.^[11] In 2020, he along with Altaf Bukhari formed a new political party, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party.^[12]

Positions held in J&K Government

• MoS Finance, Planning and Development, Revenue, Forest, Agriculture, Higher and Technical Education and various other portfolios: 2002
• MoS (Independent) Haj, Auqaf and Fisheries: 2009
• MoS Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs,  Rural Development and Panchayats, Social Welfare, Animal Husbandry and Hospitality and Protocol: 2009
• MoS (Independent) Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation: 2013

Legislative experience

• 2002 – 2008 Member, 10th Legislative Assembly (Gool-Arnas Constituency)
• 2008 – 2014 Member, 11th Legislative Assembly (Gool-Arnas Constituency)
• 2014 – 2018 Member, 12th Legislative Assembly (Gool-Arnas Constituency)
• Chairman of Joint Commission Land Conservation of J&K Assembly
• Chairman of Subordinate Legislation of J&K Assembly
• Member of Ethics Committee of J&K Assembly
• Member of Committee on Joint Heritage Preservation of J&K Assembly
• Member of Public Accounts Committee for three times of J&K Assembly

Awards and honors

• Rashtriya Gourav Award
• Best citizen of India Award

Social Work

Ajaz Ahmed Khan is also patron of Gujjar Bakerwal Conference (GBC),^[3] a social and political platform which was founded by his father and veteran leader Haji Buland Khan who established Gujjar Bakerwal Conference in 2000 which has played a crucial role in the upliftment of Gujjar Bakerwal Community. ^[13]