Mazhar Saeed Shah

Mawlānā Peer Mazhar Saeed Shah (پیر مظہر سعید شاہ) is a Pakistani politician from Azad Kashmir who is currently serving as a member of the Azad Kashmir Assembly since 2021.

Early life and education
His roots lie in the Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir.

Apart from graduating from Jamia Binoria, Karachi, he also holds an MA degree from Karachi University.

Political career
In 2006, Mazhar Saeed Shah participated in the elections from Neelam Valley on the ticket of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and got 3500 votes.

In 2011, he once again entered electoral politics but withdrew due to his party's alliance with the Muslim Conference. However, after that he withdrew from practical politics at the local level.

In 2021, Mazhar developed ties with Tehreek-e-Insaaf and got a ticket for the special seat of Ulama in exchange for PTI's support in the July 25 elections.

In 2022, Mazhar came into the limelight once again when PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman visited the Neelum Valley. During this visit Maulana was hosted by him, and both of them addressed many public gatherings together.

In 2023, Mazhar clarified his position of why he is no more in alliance with PTI.

Alleged past militancy
In 2021, when Mazhar became a candidate for the AJK legislative assembly, many in the opposition to the ruling PTI party, including PPP's Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, criticized the move, alleging Mazhar's former association with jihadi groups, including the Afghan Taliban, Mazhar himself acknowledging his presence in Afghanistan under their rule but denying any "official post", and also for once being a "key leader" of Masood Azhar's Jaish-e-Mohammed.