Former MLA Choudhary Akram distances himself from Azad’s DAP

SRINAGAR — In a major political development in Jammu & Kashmir, former MLA and powerful Gujjar leader Choudhary Muhammad Akram has reportedly distanced himself from Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Azad Party (DAP), sources disclosed.

Sources told the news agency KNO that former MLA Surankote Choudhary Muhammad Akram has not participated in the activities of the Democratic Azad Party after its launch. “Akram was conspicuously missing from the function when DAP was launched in Jammu,” they said, adding that he has not joined DAP, although he participated in its activities before its launch.

Akram’s name also doesn’t figure in the list of party leaders appointed as members of six zonal committees constituted by Ghulam Nabi Azad for Jammu & Kashmir. According to sources, Akram is still weighing his options and is yet to decide on his future course of action.

Akram had won the last Assembly election from the Surankote Assembly segment by a huge margin. He is the son of powerful Gujjar leader Choudhary Mohammad Aslam Lassanvi, who was the first Gujjar leader from J&K to become a Rajya Sabha member.

Aslam served as J&K’s Finance Minister, Education Minister and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. He remained the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief for 17 years.