Abdul Ahad Vakil
(August 1935 – July 2014)
Senior National Conference leader from north Kashmir’s Sopore, Abdul Ahad Vakil passed away on Wednesday evening after a prolonged ailment at his Goripora residence. He was 76 and is survived by a son and two daughters.
The deceased was suffering from a chest ailment and had been hospitalized in SKIMS, a month back. His death occurred due to multiple organ failure, as per his family.
Vakil joined politics at an early age and became Member of Indian Parliament in 1977. He then became a state minister in 1983. Governor, NN Vohra in his condolence message expressed sympathy with Vakil’s family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Vakil was born in 1935 in a well-to-do business family of Sopore. Holding masters and law degrees, he practiced law at J&K High Court and later joined active politics. He was General Secretary of J&K Plebiscite Front for three years.
He was imprisoned for four-and-a-half years in Plebiscite movement. A veteran leader of NC he was inducted as revenue minister by Farooq Abdullah in his cabinet in 1996. He was later elected speaker of the state Legislative Assembly.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his condolence message highlighted the role and contribution of Vakil in the political, developmental and social fields in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the late leader always worked for the welfare and betterment of the people.
