Zafar Iqbal Malik

Zafar Iqbal Malik
ظفر اقبال ملک
Member of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 August 2021
Preceded byMalik Muhammad Nawaz Khan
ConstituencyLA-8 Kotli-I
Personal details
PartyPakistan People's Party (2025-present)
Other political
affiliations
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2021-2025)

Zafar Iqbal Malik (Urdu: ظفر اقبال ملک) is a Pakistani politician who has been a member of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly since August 2021.

Political career

Malik was elected to the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly from LA-8 Kotli-I as a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the 2021 Azad Kashmiri general election. He defeated Malik Muhmmad Nawaz Khan, a candidate of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC).[1]

On 26 August 2021, he was sworn into the cabinet of Prime Minister Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi as the Minister for Higher Education.[2][3] He served in this position until the fall of Niazi's government on 14 April 2022.[4]

On 25 April 2022, he was sworn into the cabinet of Prime Minister Tanveer Ilyas Khan as the Minister for Higher Education.[5][6] He served in this position until the fall of Khan's government on 11 April 2023.[7]

On 25 June 2023, he was sworn into the cabinet of Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq as the Minister for Higher Education.[8][9] He served in this position until the fall of Haq's government on 17 November 2025.[10]

On 26 October 2025, he joined Pakistan People's Party (PPP).[11]

On 19 November 2025, he was sworn into the cabinet of Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore as the Minister for Higher Education.[12][13]

He was re-elected to the Assembly from LA-8 Kotli-I as a candidate of PPP in the 2026 Azad Kashmiri general election. He received 19,994 votes, while the runner-up, Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), received 12,233 votes.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2021-07-26). "PTI clinches most seats to form next govt in Azad Jammu and Kashmir". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  2. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2021-08-27). "15 AJK ministers sworn in". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  3. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2021-08-31). "16 members of AJK cabinet allotted portfolios". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  4. ↑ "Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi resigns as AJK PM". Dawn. 14 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "AJK Cabinet sworn in". The Nation. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  6. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2022-05-12). "AJK PM allots portfolios to cabinet members". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  7. ↑ "AJK top court disqualifies PM Sardar Tanvir Ilyas". The News International. 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  8. ↑ "27 AJK ministers take oath". The Nation. 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  9. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2023-11-01). "Azad Kashmir PM finally allots portfolios to 29 cabinet members". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  10. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (17 November 2025). "No-confidence ousts Haq in AJK; PPP's Rathore takes over premiership". Dawn.
  11. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2025-10-26). "10 legislators join PPP, significantly increasing likelihood of the party installing its premier in AJK". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  12. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2025-11-20). "18-strong AJK cabinet sworn in, two made advisers". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  13. ↑ Naqash, Tariq (2025-11-21). "Newly formed AJK cabinet assigned portfolios by PM Rathore". Dawn. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  14. ↑ LA-8 Kotli-I Form 27 (2026), 2026-07-28, retrieved 2026-07-29
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