View source for Muhammad Yaqoob Khan (politician)

{{Use Pakistani English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{update|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| name                = Muhammad Yaqoob Khan
| honorific-prefix    = [[Sardar]]
| office              = [[Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir|Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir]]
| term_start          = 7 January 2009
| term_end            = 22 October 2009
| predecessor         = [[Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan|Sardar Sikandar Hayat]]
| successor           = [[Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan|Abdul Qayyum Khan]]
| office1             = [[President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir|President of Azad Kashmir]]
| term_start1         = 25 August 2011
| term_end1           = 25 August 2016
| predecessor1        = [[Raja Muhammad Zulqarnain Khan|Raja Zulqarnain Khan]]
| successor1          = [[Masood Khan]]
| party               = [[Pakistan People's Party]]
| otherparty          =
| birth_date          = 1953
| birth_place         = [[Rawalakot]], [[Azad Kashmir]], Pakistan
| alma_mater          = [[Karachi University]]
| children            = Sardar Fahad Yaqoob, Sardar Faisal Yaqoob
| image               = File:Sardar Yaqoob Khan President AJK.jpg
| caption             = Khan in 2015
| native_name_lang    = ur
| native_name         = سردار محمد یعقوب خان
}}
'''[[Sardar]] Muhammad Yaqoob Khan''' ([[Urdu]]: سردار محمد یعقوب خان) is an [[Azad Kashmir|Azad Kashmiri]] businessman and politician. He served as the [[President of Azad Kashmir]] from 25 August 2011 to 25 August 2016. He also served as the [[Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir]] from 7 January 2009 to 22 October 2009. Beside politics, Khan is also serving as the Chairman of YK Group of Companies.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 March 2016 |title=On the bench: Raja Sadaqat appointed to AJK high court (by president Muhammad Yaqoob Khan) |newspaper=The Express Tribune (newspaper) |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1072309/on-the-bench-raja-sadaqat-appointed-to-ajk-high-court |access-date=24 January 2021}}</ref>
==Early life==
Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan was born in 1953 in the village of Ali Sojal, [[Rawalakot District|Rawalakot]] Tehsil, [[Azad Kashmir]]. He belongs to a prominent [[Sudhan]] family and is the brother of Late Haji Muhammad Zaman Khan, former MLA and a well-known figure in Azad Kashmir's political and social circles.
Khan received his graduation degree education from [[University of Karachi|Karachi University]]. He began his political career in Karachi with the Punjabi Pakhtoon Ittehad, an ethnic political party that aimed to promote unity among the Punjabi and Pashtun communities. Later, he joined the Tahreek-e-Amil, an Azad Kashmiri political party, and rose through the ranks to become its senior vice president. Additionally, he was affiliated with the [[All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference]],<ref name="PH">[http://www.pakistanherald.com/profile/sardar-muhammad-yaqoob-khan-671 Muhammad Yaqoob Khan profile on PakistanHerald.com website] Retrieved 24 January 2021</ref> a prominent political party in the region.
==Political career==
Muhammad Yaqoob Khan has had a distinguished political career, serving as a Member of the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly on four occasions. During his tenure, he held various ministerial positions, including Minister for Health, Population Welfare & Hydro Electric Board, and Housing & Planning. Currently, he represents LA 20 as a MLA and political affiliated with [[Pakistan People's Party]].
==Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir==
Khan became the 8th [[Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir|Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir]] on 7 January 2009 after a successful no confidence vote over former premiere [[Attique Ahmed Khan|Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan]].<ref>[https://www.dawn.com/news/337861 AJK PM committed to 'mitigating misery'] Dawn (newspaper), Published 8 January 2009, Retrieved 24 January 2021</ref><ref name="Dawn2">{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1447233 |author=Tariq Naqash|date=24 November 2018|title=PPP to contest by-polls in Poonch |newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|access-date=24 January 2021}}</ref> He resigned from the office on 22 October 2009 to avoid a political controversy in the [[Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-10-15 |title=Sardar Yaqoob resigns as AJK Prime Minister |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3689453 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref> [[Farooq Haider Khan|Raja Farooq Haidar]] took over the office after his resignation.
==President of Azad Kashmir==
Khan was elected as the 22nd [[President of Azad Kashmir|President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir]] on 25 August 2011 succeeding [[Raja Muhammad Zulqarnain Khan|Raja Zulqarnain Khan]].<ref name="Dawn">[https://www.dawn.com/news/654654/yaqoob-takes-oath-as-ajk-president Yaqoob takes oath as AJK president] Dawn (newspaper), Published 25 August 2011, Retrieved 24 January 2021</ref> He completed his term on 25 August 2016 and was succeeded by [[Masood Khan]].<ref name="Dawn2" />
[[File:Sardar_Yaqoob_Khan_Addressing_Convention.jpg|thumb|Sardar Yaqoob Khan Addressing a Convention in AJK]]
[[File:Sardar_Yaqoob_Khan_Meeting_with_President_Asif_Ali_Zardari.jpg|thumb|Sardar Yaqoob Khan Meeting with President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari on 12th May 2024]]
[[File:Sardar_Yaqoob_Khan_eith_President_Asif_Ali_Zardari.jpg|thumb|Sardar Yaqoob Khan with President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari on 12th May 2024]]
== Business ==
Khan founded [https://www.kashmiroverseas.com/ Kashmir Overseas Employment Services] (KOES) in 1976 to facilitate the employment of Pakistani workers in the Middle East and other regions. With over 40 years of experience working with global business enterprises, he has been a pioneer in the overseas employment business in Pakistan.
=== Real Estate Development ===
Khan founded Brother Construction Y-K (Pvt) Ltd., which has developed two successful housing societies:
[https://y-kgroup.com/al-madinah-city/ Al Madina City]: Adjacent to Sectors C-18 and C-19 of Islamabad.
[https://y-kgroup.com/al-makkah-city/ Al Makkah City]: Adjacent to Gulberg Green and OPF Islamabad.
=== Manufacturing ===
Kashmir Polypropylene (Pvt) Ltd (KPPL) is a leading enterprise established by Khan, engaged in the production of packing materials and [[Polypropylene|Polypropylene Manufacturing]].
=== Hospitality ===
Khan has also invested in the hospitality sector, founding two hotels in Rawalpindi:
Al Jabbal Hotel
Rex Hotel
In 2007, Khan consolidated his various business ventures under the umbrella of [https://y-kgroup.com/ YK Group].
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Presidents of Azad Kashmir}}
{{Prime Ministers of Azad Kashmir}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Muhammad Yaqoob}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Azad Kashmir MLAs 2021–2026]]
[[Category:Pahari Pothwari people]]
[[Category:People from Rawalakot]]
[[Category:Presidents of Azad Kashmir]]
[[Category:University of Karachi alumni]]
{{Azad-Kashmir-bio-stub}}