Abdul Ahad Karzai
Encyclopedia
Abdul Ahad Karzai was a politician
in Afghanistan, who served as the Deputy Speaker
of the National Assembly of Afghanistan
under King Zahir Shah in the 1960s. He was the son of Khair Mohammad Khan and father of current Afghan President
Hamid Karzai
. As head of the Popalzai
Pashtun
tribe, Abdul Ahad Karzai moved with his family from Kandahar
to the capital Kabul
upon his election to the Parliament. He criticised the communist government in Afghanistan and was imprisoned for three years, at which point his family's properties were confiscated.
On 14 July 1999, when the Taliban government
was in power, Abdul Ahad Karzai was assassinated by two Taliban gunmen on a motorcycle outside a mosque in Quetta
, Pakistan. He was 77 years old when he died and his son Hamid Karzai took over the leadership and responsibilities of the Popalzai tribe. The Karzai family
were living as Afghan refugees
in neighboring Pakistan from where Hamid Karzai organized the tribe's affairs.
Politics of Afghanistan
The politics of Afghanistan consists of the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly, with a president serving as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the military. The nation is currently led by the Karzai administration under President Hamid Karzai who is backed by two vice...
in Afghanistan, who served as the Deputy Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the National Assembly of Afghanistan
National Assembly of Afghanistan
The National Assembly is Afghanistan's national legislature. It is a bicameral body, comprising two chambers:*Wolesi Jirga or the House of the People: the 250-member lower house.*Meshrano Jirga ) or the House of Elders: an upper house with 102 seats....
under King Zahir Shah in the 1960s. He was the son of Khair Mohammad Khan and father of current Afghan President
President of Afghanistan
Afghanistan has only been a republic between 1973 and 1992 and from 2001 onwards. Before 1973, it was a monarchy that was governed by a variety of kings, emirs or shahs...
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
. As head of the Popalzai
Popalzai
Popalzai or Popalzay are Durrani Pashtuns.-Origin:According to Hyat Khan's history of Afghanistan, from their progenitor Bor Tareen, otherwise known as Abdal, are descended two main divisions: the Zirak and the Panjpai...
Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
tribe, Abdul Ahad Karzai moved with his family from Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
to the capital Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
upon his election to the Parliament. He criticised the communist government in Afghanistan and was imprisoned for three years, at which point his family's properties were confiscated.
On 14 July 1999, when the Taliban government
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was founded in 1996 when the Taliban began their rule of Afghanistan and ended with their fall from power in 2001...
was in power, Abdul Ahad Karzai was assassinated by two Taliban gunmen on a motorcycle outside a mosque in Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, Pakistan. He was 77 years old when he died and his son Hamid Karzai took over the leadership and responsibilities of the Popalzai tribe. The Karzai family
Karzai
Karzai may refer to:*Abdul Ahad Karzai, father of Hamid Karzai*Ahmed Wali Karzai, half-brother of Hamid Karzai*Habibullah Karzai, uncle of Hamid Karzai*Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan*Hekmat Karzai, cousin of Hamid Karzai...
were living as Afghan refugees
Afghans in Pakistan
Afghans in Pakistan are mostly refugees who fled Afghanistan during the 1980s Soviet war as well as diplomats, traders, businesspersons, workers, exchange students, tourists and other visitors. As of March 2009, some 1.7 million registered Afghan nationals were reported to be living in Pakistan,...
in neighboring Pakistan from where Hamid Karzai organized the tribe's affairs.