Abbaspur Tehsil

Abbaspur- a view from hill side

Abbaspur is a small town located near line of control which divides Azad Kashmir and Indian Kashmir. It is the sub-divisional headquarters of district Poonch, Azad Kashmir.

Location

Abbaspur is located at 33°49′N 73°59′E and an elevation of 1,161 m (3,809 ft). Abbaspur is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the Poonch city, Indian Kashmir and 167 kilometres (104 mi) from Islamabad, Pakistan.

History

It was originally named as Gow Pal pur. Before partition of Indian and Pakistani Kashmir Gowpal Pur was an unknown place primarily used to breed cows. That is where the original name of GOWPALPUR meaning (Cows breeding place) came from. Abbaspur has a stronghold of Gujjar,Maldayal and Dhulli tribes.

In 1947, during the Indo-Pak war over Kashmir, Muslim residents of Poonch city and neighbouring towns rushed to this site for a temporary refuge. Their main purpose to hanging around this area was to wait for a ceasefire and then go back to their permanent homes in Poonch. After few years the immigrant residents realized that their dream to go back to their native areas was far from true. Thus those immigrants started to rebuild their lives in this area. Immigrants from Poonch and neighbouring towns brought a rich culture of business, education and social city life to this area.

Munshi Fateh Muhammad khan is known as baba e abbaspur because he founded and flourished Abbaspur city. After him his grandson Sardar Muhammad Asghar Effendi is continuing the legacy as a prominent political figure who has thrice been elected and was ex‑minister of health. In his time Abbaspur was declared to be a sub division of Poonch.Currently Chaudhry Yasin Gulshan is the elected MLA from Abbaspur.He belong to Gujjar cast.

The population of Abbaspur is estimated at 100,000 people residing in two localities called Mahmoud Gali and Bari Gali. Also known as "Taat", the place is inhabited by major ethnic tribes called, Maldiyal,Gujjars and Dhulli followed by other minor tribes like Jatt,Kawaja, Pathan, kiani, Sadat, Awan, Malik, Sheikh, Duli, Sudhan, Querashi, Minhas, Magray, Satti, Thakkar and more. Although a mix of numerous tribes, the area is peaceful and incidences of theft, murder or harassment is at a record low.

Khawaja families are mostly renowned as famous businessman in this city. After partition 1950 khawaja families are involved in business of barter system they started with bringing daily use able items from big cities like Rawalpindi or Gujar Khan and start selling through barter system. They gave crockery, toys, unstitch clothes etc. and take food & other precious item like Red Beans, handmade crafts like clothes etc. in exchange. Once collected items received in transportable volume they transport these material through donkey locally called "KHACHAR" to near road access than hire truck to move into big cities and trade with profit. With the passage of time they move to small shops where they bring commodities, daily consumable item and start business.

Khawaja Mumtaz Ahmed

Khawaja Mumtaz Ahmed , curently serving as Conservator of Forest at Forest Department AJK , is a renown personality of Abbaspur . He is one of the few Senior Government officials Belonging to Abbaspur , along with Munir Ahmed , Session Judge and few others . He has Also represented Pakistan in International conferences in China , Nepal , Bhutan and in other countries.

Khawaja Ghani Joo (1926–1982) was the very famous businessman in this area. He was famous government contractor involved in the business of retails, construction and transportation. There was a very important role of Khawaja Ghani Joo in independence of Ajk.Khawaja sahib fight with Hindus and Sikhs of Abasspur,due to which he is known as Father of Abasspur.

Syed Muhammad Fareed Shah Gillani

Mr. Gillani was a prominent personality of Abbaspur.His native town was Namjar.He remained Minister of Land in the regime of Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan.Mr Gillani was very genius leader and well wisher of poor and backword peoples particularly inhabitants of Mangora, Khali Darman Marchkot,Kot Chuthial and Namjar.

Other prominent personalities

Col Abdul Hameed Mogrey of Marchkot,Sardar Abdul Qayyum Advocate of Khali Darman,Syed Muneer Shah Secession Judge(R) of Namjar are the prominent personalities of abbaspur.