Mukhtar Ahmed Waza | |
|---|---|
| مختار احمد وازہ | |
| Waza in 2016 | |
| Born | 1966 Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Occupation | Kashmiri separatist politician |
| Known for | Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir People league ; Executive member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference |
| Office | Chairman ,Jammu Kashmir Peoples League |
| Predecessor | Sheikh Abdul Aziz |
| Children | 2 |
Mukhtar Ahmed Waza (born 1966) is a Kashmiri separatist leader and chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League, a banned political faction by the government of India. He is also an executive council member of All Parties Hurriyat Conference [1]
Waza married in 2004 to a Kashmiri women in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir from which he has 2 sons Reyyan Mukhtar Waza and Umair Mukhtar Waza.
Waza was born in business family of Jammu and Kashmir, India on 2 June 1966. He did his early schooling at Government Middle School Sarnal, Anantnag. However, he could not complete his studies due to his affiliation with Peoples league for which he was jailed at the age of 16.[ citation needed ]
Waza began his political career in 1980 at the age of 14, leading a peaceful demonstration in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. His activism resulted in his arrest and subsequent detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 (PSA) for a period of three years. In 1986, he was again detained for one year under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). He, along with the JKPL activists, were arrested on several occasions, including in March 1992. [2] [3] After the death of Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Waza became the chairman of Peoples League and executive member of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was re-elected as chairman in 2013. [4] [5] Waza has been involved in talks at highest level of government both in India and Pakistan including visiting Pakistan on an official diplomatic trip and meeting prime minister Nawaz sharif and foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar in 2012 other leaders include Shehbaz sharif, Syed Munawar Hussain and Liaqat Baloch [6] Waza also met several international and national delegations too including meeting Pak high commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi [7] several times and Ram Jethmalani as part of the Kashmir Committee. Over his 45 year long period of political struggle he has nearly spent 18 years in several jails across India. Waza has been closely associated with Abdul Gani Bhat from 1986 to 2025 till he died , Waza termed Bhat as his father like figure who taught him almost all pillars of life.