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{{short description| Indian politician, businessman and religious scholar }}
{{short description| Indian politician, businessman and religious scholar }}
{{Use dmy dates}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox politician
{{Infobox politician
| name                = Iftikhar Hussain Ansari
| name                = Iftikhar Hussain Ansari
| native_name        = مولانا مولوى افتخار حسين انصارى
| native_name        = افتخار حسين الأنصاري
| image              =  
| image              =|
| post                = Cabinet minister and MLA
| occupation          = Politician, Businessman, Religious Cleric
| constituency        = [[Pattan]], [[Baramulla]], Kashmir
| constituency        = [[Pattan]], [[Baramulla]], Kashmir
| residence          = [[Srinagar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| residence          = Darul Jawad,[[Srinagar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| alma_mater          = [[Sultanul Madaris]], [[Lucknow]], India <br> [[Hawza Elmia Najaf]], [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]]
| alma_mater          = [[Sultanul Madaris]], [[Lucknow]], India <br> [[Hawza Elmia Najaf]], [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]]
| birth_date          = 26 April 1942
| birth_date          = 26 April 1942
| birth_place        = Srinagar, [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India
| birth_place        = Srinagar, [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[British Raj]]
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|2014|9|30|1942
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|2014|9|30|1942
|4|26|df=y}}
|4|26|df=y}} [[Srinagar]] [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]  [[India]]
| death_place        = Dar-ul-Jawad, Qamarwari Srinagar
| resting_place      = Baba Mazar, [[Zadibal]], [[Srinagar]]
| party              = [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party]]
| party              = [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party]]
| otherparty          = '''President''', [[All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association]], '''Chairman''', [[Imam Hussain A.S Charitable Trust]]
| otherparty          = *'''President''', [[All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association]], <br/>
'''Patron''', Mouarifat-ul-Uloom Islami
*'''Chairman''' [[Imam Hussain A.S Charitable Trust]]
| children            = [[Imran Raza Ansari]], Irfan Raza Ansari, and a daughter
*'''President''', Maarif-Uloom-Islami [Educational wing of [[All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association]] ].
*[[Indian National Congress]]
*[[Jammu and Kashmir National Conference]]
*[[Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference]]
*[[Janata Party]]
*[[Independent politician|Independent]]
| children            = [[Imran Raza Ansari]], [[Irfan Raza Ansari]], and a daughter
| signature          =
}}
}}
'''Iftikhar Hussain Ansari'''  (26 April 1942 – 30 September 2014), widely known among his followers as '''Moulvi Sahib''', was a [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]] [[Shia Islam|Shia]] cleric, politician, businessman and a proponent of the [[Grand Ashura Procession In Kashmir]]. He was a representative of [[Ruhollah Khomeini]] and other [[maraji’]]. He was one of the leading shia clerics in [[Kashmir]] and had close relations with multiple other important scholars such as Sayyid Jawad Shahristani, [[Mohammad Alavi Gorgani]] and [[Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani]]. He succeeded his father Muhammad Jawad Ansari as president of the [[All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association]] in Jammu & Kashmir in 1962, a position which he held for life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shias of Kashmir: Socio-Political Dilemmas|url=http://kashmirobserver.net/news/features/shias-kashmir-socio-political-dilemmas|publisher=Kashmir Observer|accessdate=24 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104214200/http://kashmirobserver.net/news/features/shias-kashmir-socio-political-dilemmas|archivedate=4 January 2013}}</ref>  He was a sitting member of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]'s Legislative Assembly for the [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party]]; he was earlier a member of the [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]] and [[Indian National Congress|Congress]].<ref name="KashmirLife">{{cite web|title=Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari|url=http://kashmirlife.net/molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari/|publisher=Kashmir Life|accessdate=24 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017104327/http://www.kashmirlife.net/molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari/|archivedate=17 October 2013}}</ref>
'''Iftikhar Hussain Ansari'''  (26 April 1942 – 30 September 2014), widely known among his followers as '''Moulvi Sahib''', was a [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]] [[Shia Islam|Shia]] cleric, politician, businessman and a proponent of the [[Grand Ashura Procession In Kashmir]]. Ansari was a Wakil (Representative) of Ayatollah Sistani. He was also the representative of Ruhollah Khomeini.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2014 |title=Iran envoy condoles demise of Moulvi Iftikhar |url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2014/10/01/iran-envoy-condoles-demise-of-moulvi-iftikhar/ |access-date=4 October 2025 |website=Kashmir Observer}}</ref>
 
He was one of the leading Shia clerics in [[Kashmir]] and had close relations with multiple other important scholars such as Sayyid Jawad Shahristani, [[Mohammad Alavi Gorgani]] and [[Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani]]. He studied at [[Sultanul Madaris Lucknow]], as well as [[Hawza Najaf]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari; A Brief Inteoduction|date= 30 September 2014|url= https://kashmirlife.net/molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari-a-brief-introduction-65994/|publisher=Kashmir Life|accessdate=30 September 2014}}</ref>
He succeeded his father Muhammad Jawad Ansari as president of the [[All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association]] in Jammu & Kashmir in 1962, a position which he held for life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shias of Kashmir: Socio-Political Dilemmas|url=http://kashmirobserver.net/news/features/shias-kashmir-socio-political-dilemmas|publisher=Kashmir Observer|accessdate=24 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104214200/http://kashmirobserver.net/news/features/shias-kashmir-socio-political-dilemmas|archivedate=4 January 2013}}</ref>  He was four-time member of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]'s Legislative Assembly for the [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party]] from Pattan Assembly segment;<ref>{{cite web | title=PDP MLA Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away | website=The Hindu | date=30 September 2014 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/pdp-mla-iftikhar-hussain-ansari-passes-away/article6460851.ece | access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref> he was earlier a member of the [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]] and [[Indian National Congress|Congress]].<ref name="KashmirLife">{{cite web|title=Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari|url=http://kashmirlife.net/molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari/|publisher=Kashmir Life|accessdate=24 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017104327/http://www.kashmirlife.net/molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari/|archivedate=17 October 2013}}</ref>
 
In 1978, He along with [[Abdul Ghani Lone]] founded the [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference]] of which his son and brother are now a part.
 
== Political career ==
 
Iftikhar Hussain Ansari was a prominent politician known for his four-term tenure as a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) from the [[Pattan Assembly constituency|Pattan Assembly segment]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. He also served as a [[Member of the Legislative Council]] (MLC) for two non consecutive terms. He garnered a substantial following among the Shia community in the state due to his background as a Shia cleric. He had also served as a Minister of the State Government numerous times, holding portfolios like Housing and Urban Development, a department which he is most well known for having revolutionised. Ansari also focused on environmental issues and is remembered for starting a large scale project to clean the Dal Lake.<ref>{{cite web | title=PDP MLA Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away | website=The Economic Times | date=30 September 2014 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pdp-mla-iftikhar-hussain-ansari-passes-away/articleshow/43882592.cms | access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref>
 
Ansari's political journey commenced in the 1960s when he entered the realm of public service. In 1973, he was nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on the ticket of the [[Indian National Congress]]. However, during the 1977 elections, he shifted his allegiance to the Janata Party.<ref>{{cite web | title=Molvi Iftikhar Ansari's demise a major loss for PDP | website=Early Times Newspaper Jammu Kashmir | date=26 April 1940 |url=https://www.earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=132658 | access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref>
 
Returning to the [[Indian National Congress]] fold in the 1980s, Ansari's leadership qualities were recognized, and he was appointed as the leader of the Legislature party in the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly from 1983 to 1987.
 
In 1996, he secured a victory in the state legislative assembly elections, once again on a Congress ticket, and subsequently assumed a ministerial role in the [[Jammu and Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]] (NC) government, headed by [[Farooq Abdullah]].
 
Ansari's association with various political parties continued over the years. In 2002, he joined the [[Jammu and Kashmir National Conference]] (NC) and successfully contested the election from the [[Pattan Assembly constituency]]. However, in 2006, he decided to switch to the [[Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP). Unfortunately, he faced defeat in the ensuing by-election.<ref>{{cite web | title=PDP MLA Ansari dead | website=Deccan Herald | date=30 September 2014 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pdp-mla-ansari-dead-418037.html | access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref>
 
In the 2008 elections, Ansari secured a significant win on a PDP ticket, further solidifying his political standing within the state. {{As of|2014}}, he was nominated as the party's candidate for the forthcoming assembly elections, reflecting the trust and support he enjoyed within the party ranks. After his death, his son, Molvi [[Imran Reza Ansari]] who was earlier the party’s candidate from Zadibal constituency, was nominated as party candidate for Pattan constituency, and won with a landslide achieving the highest victory margin in the J&K Elections 2014.<ref>{{cite web | title=PDP MLA Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away | website=The Indian Express | date=30 September 2014 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/pdp-mla-iftikhar-hussain-ansari-passes-away/ | access-date=25 July 2023}} |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-election-results-shia-cleric-imran-reza-ansari-trails-from-pattan-constituency-101728241100566.html
</ref>
 
== Electoral performance ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Election !! Constituency !! colspan="2"|Party !! Result !! Votes % !! Opposition Candidate !! colspan="2"|Opposition Party !! Opposition vote %|| Ref
|-
|[[2008 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2008]]||[[Pattan Assembly constituency|Pattan]]||{{party name with color|Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}||{{Won}}||51.14%||[[Abdul Rashid Shaheen]]||{{party name with color|Jammu and Kashmir National Conference}}||23.30%||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|title=Statistical Report on General Election, 2008 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir |url=https://ceojk.nic.in/pdf/10-Detailed%20Results.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225073739/https://ceojk.nic.in/pdf/10-Detailed%20Results.pdf|archive-date=25 December 2024|access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[2006 elections in India#Jammu and Kashmir|2006 By-election]]||[[Pattan Assembly constituency|Pattan]]||{{party name with color|Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}||{{Lost}}||45.51%||[[Sheikh Mustafa Kamal]]||{{party name with color|Jammu and Kashmir National Conference}}||50.77%||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/ByeElection/ByeAprMay2006/index.htm |access-date=1 January 2025 |title=Election Statistics - Bye Elections - April-May 2006 |publisher=Election Commission Of India |website=eci.gov.in}}</ref>
|-
|[[2002 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|2002]]||[[Pattan Assembly constituency|Pattan]]||{{party name with color|Jammu and Kashmir National Conference}}||{{Won}}||52.63%||Dr. Abdul Ahad Yatoo||{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}||45.10%||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|title=Statistical Report on General Election, 2002 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir |url=http://eci.gov.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2002/StatRep_JK_02.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127192246/http://eci.gov.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_2002/StatRep_JK_02.pdf|archive-date=27 January 2013|access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[1996 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1996]]||[[Pattan Assembly constituency|Pattan]]||{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}||{{Won}}||45.94%||[[Abdul Rashid Shaheen]]||{{party name with color|Janata Dal}}||25.66%||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1996 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1996/StatisticalReport-JK96.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117084805/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1996/StatisticalReport-JK96.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2012|access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[1983 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1983]]||[[Pattan Assembly constituency|Pattan]]||{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}||{{Won}}||39.22%||Abdul Aziz Parrey||{{party name with color|Jammu and Kashmir National Conference}}||36.36%||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1983 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1983/StatisticalReport_JK_1983.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117082124/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1983/StatisticalReport_JK_1983.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2012|access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[1977 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election|1977]]||[[Pattan Assembly constituency|Pattan]]||{{party name with color|Janata Party}}||{{Lost}}||43.69%||[[Abdul Rashid Shaheen]]||{{party name with color|Jammu and Kashmir National Conference}}||53.99%||<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1977 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1977/StatisticalReport_JK_77.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117081946/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1977/StatisticalReport_JK_77.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2012|access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
|}


==Assassinations==
==Assassinations==
Ansari was thrice the target of unsuccessful assassination attempts. In June 2000, Ansari barely escaped the explosion of a [[landmine]] while addressing a religious congregation at Gund Khwaja Qasim. The blast killed twelve of his followers. On 1 September 2000, Ansari was injured by an [[Improvised explosive device|IED]] explosion that killed two policemen and a driver. Police suspected the [[Hizbul Mujahideen]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hizbul Momineen Behind Twin Attacks On Ansari: DGP|url=http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/archives/archives2000/kashmir20000902a.html|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=25 April 2013}}</ref>
Ansari was thrice the target of unsuccessful assassination attempts. In June 2000, Ansari barely escaped the explosion of a [[landmine]] while addressing a religious congregation at Gund Khwaja Qasim. The blast killed twelve of his followers. On 1 September 2000, Ansari was injured by an [[Improvised explosive device|IED]] explosion that killed two policemen and a driver. Police suspected the [[Hizbul Momineen]], a terrorist organisation led by [[Mohammad Abbas Ansari]] and [[Ghulam Rasool Noori]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hizbul Momineen Behind Twin Attacks On Ansari: DGP|url=http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/archives/archives2000/kashmir20000902a.html|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=2 September 2000|access-date=25 April 2013|archive-date=18 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318005325/http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/archives/archives2000/kashmir20000902a.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Ansari died at his residence in Dar ul Jawad, Qamarwari, Srinagar on the morning of 30 September 2014 after a prolonged liver illness.<ref name="greaterkashmir.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Oct/1/influential-leader-molviiftikharhussain-ansari-passes-away-28.asp |title=Influential leader MolviIftikharHussain Ansari passes away Lastupdate:- Wed, 1 Oct 2014 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com |access-date=1 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006151632/http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Oct/1/influential-leader-molviiftikharhussain-ansari-passes-away-28.asp |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ansari had been undergoing specialized treatment in the [[United States]]. Various political, religious and social leaders offered condolences. Almost more than two hundred thousand people attended his funeral, from qamarwari to Zadibal imambargah where namaz e jenazah was offered.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.jandknow.com/news/09303673-pdps-molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari-passes-away | title=PDP's Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away|website=Jandknow.com| date=2014-09-30}}</ref> He was buried in his ancestral graveyard, Baba Mazar, Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal, Srinagar.
Ansari died at his residence in Dar ul Jawad, Qamarwari, Srinagar on the morning of 30 September 2014 after a prolonged liver illness.<ref name="greaterkashmir.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Oct/1/influential-leader-molviiftikharhussain-ansari-passes-away-28.asp |title=Influential leader MolviIftikharHussain Ansari passes away Lastupdate:- Wed, 1 Oct 2014 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com |access-date=1 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006151632/http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/Oct/1/influential-leader-molviiftikharhussain-ansari-passes-away-28.asp |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ansari had been undergoing specialized treatment in the [[United States]]. Various political, religious and social leaders offered condolences. Several hundred thousand people attended his funeral, shops were closed, and all activities were halted in Shia dominated areas, as a final adieu to their beloved leader. People from all spheres, faiths, and backgrounds attended his funeral and, internationally as well condolences were issues. His funeral procession was taken from his residence in Qamarwari to Imambargah Zadibal where Namaz e Jenazah was offered.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jandknow.com/news/09303673-pdps-molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari-passes-away | title=PDP's Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away|website=Jandknow.com| date=2014-09-30 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009202721/http://jandknow.com/news/09303673-pdps-molvi-iftikhar-hussain-ansari-passes-away |archive-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> He was buried in his ancestral graveyard, Baba Mazar, Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal, Srinagar.


==References==
==References==
Line 33: Line 77:
==External links==
==External links==
*{{cite web|title=IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN ANSARI Srinagar (JAMMU & KASHMIR)|url=http://myneta.info/ls2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=6759|publisher=National Election Watch. My Neta|access-date=25 April 2013}}
*{{cite web|title=IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN ANSARI Srinagar (JAMMU & KASHMIR)|url=http://myneta.info/ls2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=6759|publisher=National Election Watch. My Neta|access-date=25 April 2013}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ansari, Iftikhar Hussain}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ansari, Iftikhar Hussain}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
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[[Category:Indian Shia Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian Shia Muslims]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party politicians]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Jammu & Kashmir National Conference politicians]]
[[Category:Jammu & Kashmir National Conference politicians]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 1983–1986]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 1983–1986]]
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[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2002–2008]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2002–2008]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2008–2014]]
[[Category:Jammu and Kashmir MLAs 2008–2014]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Janata Party politicians from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:People from Baramulla district]]
[[Category:Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council]]
[[Category:Kashmiri Muslims]]

Latest revision as of 22:51, 3 March 2026


Iftikhar Hussain Ansari
افتخار حسين الأنصاري
ConstituencyPattan, Baramulla, Kashmir
Personal details
Born26 April 1942
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British Raj
Died30 September 2014(2014-09-30) (aged 72) Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir India
Resting placeBaba Mazar, Zadibal, Srinagar
Political partyJammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party
Other political
affiliations
ChildrenImran Raza Ansari, Irfan Raza Ansari, and a daughter
ResidenceDarul Jawad,Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
Alma materSultanul Madaris, Lucknow, India
Hawza Elmia Najaf, Najaf, Iraq
OccupationPolitician, Businessman, Religious Cleric

Iftikhar Hussain Ansari (26 April 1942 – 30 September 2014), widely known among his followers as Moulvi Sahib, was a Kashmiri Shia cleric, politician, businessman and a proponent of the Grand Ashura Procession In Kashmir. Ansari was a Wakil (Representative) of Ayatollah Sistani. He was also the representative of Ruhollah Khomeini.[1]

He was one of the leading Shia clerics in Kashmir and had close relations with multiple other important scholars such as Sayyid Jawad Shahristani, Mohammad Alavi Gorgani and Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani. He studied at Sultanul Madaris Lucknow, as well as Hawza Najaf.[2] He succeeded his father Muhammad Jawad Ansari as president of the All Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association in Jammu & Kashmir in 1962, a position which he held for life.[3] He was four-time member of Jammu and Kashmir's Legislative Assembly for the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party from Pattan Assembly segment;[4] he was earlier a member of the National Conference and Congress.[5]

In 1978, He along with Abdul Ghani Lone founded the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference of which his son and brother are now a part.

Political career[edit | edit source]

Iftikhar Hussain Ansari was a prominent politician known for his four-term tenure as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Pattan Assembly segment in Jammu and Kashmir. He also served as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) for two non consecutive terms. He garnered a substantial following among the Shia community in the state due to his background as a Shia cleric. He had also served as a Minister of the State Government numerous times, holding portfolios like Housing and Urban Development, a department which he is most well known for having revolutionised. Ansari also focused on environmental issues and is remembered for starting a large scale project to clean the Dal Lake.[6]

Ansari's political journey commenced in the 1960s when he entered the realm of public service. In 1973, he was nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) on the ticket of the Indian National Congress. However, during the 1977 elections, he shifted his allegiance to the Janata Party.[7]

Returning to the Indian National Congress fold in the 1980s, Ansari's leadership qualities were recognized, and he was appointed as the leader of the Legislature party in the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly from 1983 to 1987.

In 1996, he secured a victory in the state legislative assembly elections, once again on a Congress ticket, and subsequently assumed a ministerial role in the National Conference (NC) government, headed by Farooq Abdullah.

Ansari's association with various political parties continued over the years. In 2002, he joined the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) and successfully contested the election from the Pattan Assembly constituency. However, in 2006, he decided to switch to the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Unfortunately, he faced defeat in the ensuing by-election.[8]

In the 2008 elections, Ansari secured a significant win on a PDP ticket, further solidifying his political standing within the state. As of 2014, he was nominated as the party's candidate for the forthcoming assembly elections, reflecting the trust and support he enjoyed within the party ranks. After his death, his son, Molvi Imran Reza Ansari who was earlier the party’s candidate from Zadibal constituency, was nominated as party candidate for Pattan constituency, and won with a landslide achieving the highest victory margin in the J&K Elections 2014.[9]

Electoral performance[edit | edit source]

Election Constituency Party Result Votes % Opposition Candidate Opposition Party Opposition vote % Ref
2008 Pattan Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party Won 51.14% Abdul Rashid Shaheen Jammu and Kashmir National Conference 23.30% [10]
2006 By-election Pattan Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party Lost 45.51% Sheikh Mustafa Kamal Jammu and Kashmir National Conference 50.77% [11]
2002 Pattan Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Won 52.63% Dr. Abdul Ahad Yatoo INC 45.10% [12]
1996 Pattan INC Won 45.94% Abdul Rashid Shaheen JD 25.66% [13]
1983 Pattan INC Won 39.22% Abdul Aziz Parrey Jammu and Kashmir National Conference 36.36% [14]
1977 Pattan JP Lost 43.69% Abdul Rashid Shaheen Jammu and Kashmir National Conference 53.99% [15]

Assassinations[edit | edit source]

Ansari was thrice the target of unsuccessful assassination attempts. In June 2000, Ansari barely escaped the explosion of a landmine while addressing a religious congregation at Gund Khwaja Qasim. The blast killed twelve of his followers. On 1 September 2000, Ansari was injured by an IED explosion that killed two policemen and a driver. Police suspected the Hizbul Momineen, a terrorist organisation led by Mohammad Abbas Ansari and Ghulam Rasool Noori.[16]

Death[edit | edit source]

Ansari died at his residence in Dar ul Jawad, Qamarwari, Srinagar on the morning of 30 September 2014 after a prolonged liver illness.[17] Ansari had been undergoing specialized treatment in the United States. Various political, religious and social leaders offered condolences. Several hundred thousand people attended his funeral, shops were closed, and all activities were halted in Shia dominated areas, as a final adieu to their beloved leader. People from all spheres, faiths, and backgrounds attended his funeral and, internationally as well condolences were issues. His funeral procession was taken from his residence in Qamarwari to Imambargah Zadibal where Namaz e Jenazah was offered.[18] He was buried in his ancestral graveyard, Baba Mazar, Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal, Srinagar.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Iran envoy condoles demise of Moulvi Iftikhar". Kashmir Observer. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari; A Brief Inteoduction". Kashmir Life. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Shias of Kashmir: Socio-Political Dilemmas". Kashmir Observer. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "PDP MLA Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away". The Hindu. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari". Kashmir Life. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "PDP MLA Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away". The Economic Times. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Molvi Iftikhar Ansari's demise a major loss for PDP". Early Times Newspaper Jammu Kashmir. 26 April 1940. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "PDP MLA Ansari dead". Deccan Herald. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "PDP MLA Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away". The Indian Express. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2023. |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-election-results-shia-cleric-imran-reza-ansari-trails-from-pattan-constituency-101728241100566.html
  10. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 2008 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "Election Statistics - Bye Elections - April-May 2006". eci.gov.in. Election Commission Of India. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 2002 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1996 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1983 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  15. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1977 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "Hizbul Momineen Behind Twin Attacks On Ansari: DGP". The Times of India. 2 September 2000. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  17. ↑ "Influential leader MolviIftikharHussain Ansari passes away Lastupdate:- Wed, 1 Oct 2014 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "PDP's Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari passes away". Jandknow.com. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019.

External links[edit | edit source]

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