Asiya Naqash, a prominent political figure from Jammu and Kashmir, served as the Minister of State from 2015 to 2018. Born to Ghulam Nabi Naqash and a resident of Srinagar, she has been a long-time representative of the Hazratbal constituency. Her early life was marked by her pursuit of a legal education. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Kashmir. Although a chronological discrepancy in her 2014 election affidavit regarding the dates of her B.A. and LLB degrees drew public attention, her background as a law graduate from Kashmir University was well-established.
Asiya Naqash’s political career began in 2005 when she joined the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She first contested elections in 2008 before achieving a significant victory in the 2014 Assembly elections, where she won the Hazratbal constituency. She defeated her rival from the National Conference by a substantial margin, securing 12,542 votes. This win paved the way for her appointment to a ministerial role.
Following the formation of the PDP-BJP coalition government in March 2015, Asiya Naqash was appointed as the Minister of State. She was one of only two women in the 25-member cabinet, a notable achievement highlighting her political standing. During her three-year tenure, she held multiple crucial portfolios, including Social Welfare, Health & Medical Education, Housing & Urban Development, Industries & Commerce, and Power Development.
As Minister of State for Social Welfare, Asiya Naqash focused on enhancing transparency and accountability in the delivery of welfare schemes. She championed women’s economic empowerment, distributing funds to women beneficiaries through the Jammu and Kashmir State Women’s Development Corporation. She firmly believed that economic empowerment was a key driver of socio-political empowerment for women. Her efforts also included improving the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program by emphasising proper nutrition storage and computerising records. She also worked to clear the backlog of social security cases and expedite the disbursement of scholarships to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
In her capacity as Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Naqash worked towards improving public health services and infrastructure. She launched awareness campaigns to educate the public about various health schemes and preventive health measures. She also promoted the contributions of women in science and technology by inaugurating the 3rd Jammu & Kashmir Women’s Science Congress. Her goal was to ensure that government health institutions were well-equipped and that health schemes reached the people who needed them most.
Asiya Naqash remains a significant figure in Kashmir’s political landscape. She continues her affiliation with the PDP and contested the 2024 Assembly elections from the Hazratbal constituency. She has expressed her belief that elections are the most effective way for Jammu and Kashmir to regain what it has lost. Her recent political activities have focused on key issues, including unemployment, infrastructure development, and the restoration of democratic rights.