ABOUT AJK

At the time of division of India into two independent States i.e. India and Pakistan, the princely States were given the choice to join either of the countries. Kashmir was the largest State amongst 560 princely States of the British India. As per partition plan, the entire State should have gone to Pakistan. Almost all political parties working in the State advised the Maharaja to accede to Pakistan. Muslim Conference also passed a resolution on 22nd September 1947 favoring accession of the State to Pakistan. The Maharaja failed to accede to Pakistan and the Muslim felt that some conspiracy was going on between the Maharaja and Congress leaders, therefore, the Kashmiri people started armed struggle for liberation. The Muslim fighters though without any regular army, ammunition or regular line of communication working behind them, fought under the banner of Peoples Army of Liberation. The Peoples Army cleared a large part of the State from Dogra occupation forces. As per Constitution of Azad Jamm and Kashmir by Justice Syed Manzoor Hussain Gilani, the part of the State liberated by the people comprises 4144 square miles, out of which 1646 sq. miles is from Kashmir Province and 2498 sq. miles from Jammu Province. The territory conquered, captured and finally brought under control is known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is 13,297 sq. Km (5,134 sq. miles) and the total population of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is 44,66,000 (4.466 million) with the following detail:

The district-wise area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir with name of district headquarter is as under:

At present, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir comprises three Divisions, namely, Muzaffarabad, Poonch and Mirpur. Muzaffarabad Division comprises three districts, namly, Muzaffarabad, Neelum and Jhelum Valley (Hattian). Poonch Division comprises four districts, namely, Bagh, Haveli, Poonch and Sudhnuti. Mirpur Division comprises three districts, namely, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber. There are ten districts and 32 tehsils. The detail is given below:

Density per square kilometer in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is shown as under:

The liberated area was politically consolidated and a revolutionary Government was formed in the name of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government. A declaration of establishment of provisional Government in the liberated part of the State was issued on 24th of October 1947. Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan was appointed head of the Government and a war council was constituted for advice on the affairs of the continuing fight for liberation as well as the Governance.