Imran Reza Ansari

Imran Reza Ansari (born 7 March 1972) is a Kashmiri politician and a Shia cleric, succeeding his father Iftikhar Hussain Ansari after the latter's death. He won elections from the Pattan constituency on PDP's ticket and was nominated as Minister of Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports. After disagreements with the leadership of the party, in 2018, Ansari left the PDP and joined the People's Conference [PC].

Imran Reza Ansari
مولانامولوى عمران رضا انصاری
Constituency	Pattan, Baramulla, Kashmir
Personal details
Born	(1972-03-07) 7 March 1972 (age 53) Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Political party	Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference
Other political affiliations	President, All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association, Chairman Imam Hussain A.S Charitable Trust President, Maarif-Uloom-Islami [Educational wing of All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association ]. Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party
Children	Mohammad Jawad Ansari (son)
Residence(s)	Darul Jawad,Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Alma mater	Tyndale Biscoe School, SP School, Jamia Millia Islamia, Al-Mustafa International Univeristy, Qom Hawza, Damascus University, Hawza of Syria,
Occupation	Politician,Businessman,Religious Cleric

He is the President of the All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association.

Ansari is the Wakil (Representative) of Ayatollah Sistani, a post which he received upon succeeding his father, in the religious and political spheres.

He is also the representative of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi.

Early life and education

Imran Reza Ansari was born to Kashmir's influential Shia religious cleric Iftikhar Hussain Ansari on 7 March 1972. He is elder to his brother Irfan Reza Ansari and younger to his sister. Raza Ansari had his matriculation from Tyndale Biscoe School in Srinagar. He then went to Jamia Millia Islamia with arts as his subject. Later he had his masters from same institution, where he qualified with a master's degree in political science. Being a member of a clerical and religious family he was aware of his forthcoming responsibilities. And so, after qualifying masters, he went to study Islamic Doctrine at Howzeh Zainabiyyah in Syria, while also simultaneously achieving a Degree in the Arabic Language at the Department of Linguistics at the University Of Damascus. He lived and studied there for about 8 years. After which, Ansari spend some time studying theoogical courses at Lebanon. And finally, he then settled in Qom, to study at the Qom Hawza & Al-Mustafa International University to study Islamic Philosophy and Theology. Ansari returned from Qom after studying there for about 5 years.

^[1]

Political career

Imran Reza Ansari with Vijay Goel in 2017.

After death of his father Iftikhar Hussain Ansari in 2014, Imran Reza Ansari was fielded by Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party at the Pattan constituency where his father served before. In 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election, Imran Reza Ansari won from his constituency with more than 14000+ votes.^[2] After new government was formed by Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, Imran Ansari was declared minister of Information Technology, Technical Education, Youth Service and Sports.^[3][4] He has also served as the president of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.^[5] Ansari ended the three decade long term of Farooq Abdullah, when he was newly elected as president of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association on 16 July 2016.^[5]

Electoral Success and Ministerial Role

Following the demise of his father, Molvi Imran Reza Ansari successfully continued his family’s political legacy. In the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election, representing the Pattan constituency, he secured a significant mandate, winning the seat with a victory margin of over 9,300 votes.^[6] Following the formation of the government, Ansari was nominated to the Council of Ministers, where he efficiently handled key portfolios, including Minister of Information Technology, Technical Education, and Youth Services and Sports. His tenure was marked by contributions in modernizing these essential sectors in the region.^[7]

Sports Administration Leadership

Beyond his political and religious roles, Ansari made a notable contribution to sports administration in Jammu and Kashmir. In a highly significant move, he was elected as the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) on 16 July 2016. This election marked the end of a long, three-decade-long tenure held by a former Chief Minister, an achievement that underscores Ansari's administrative acumen and organizational support within the sporting body.^[8] His leadership in this capacity was a defining moment for the future of cricket administration in the region.

See also

• Iftikhar Hussain Ansari
• Irfan Reza Ansari
• Abid Hussain Ansari
• Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
• Sajjad Gani Lone