Hashmat Karzai

Hashmat Khan Karzai
Died	(2014-07-29)July 29, 2014 Karz, Afghanistan
Cause of death	Suicide bombing
Occupations	Businessman, political advisor
Children	Safiullah Karzai (son) 3 daughters
Parent	Khalil Karzai
Relatives	Hamid Karzai (cousin)

Hashmat Khan Karzai was an Afghan-American businessman and political advisor.

Biography

Hashmat Khalil Karzai was born in Afghanistan. ^[1] He was a cousin of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. ^{[2] [3] [4]} Karzai ran security and construction companies in Afghanistan. ^{[2] [3]} He was a powerbroker in the Kandahar Province and was seen as a tribal leader of the Popalzai, a Pashtun tribe. ^[3] He was a supporter of presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani. ^{[3] [1]} Some sources go as far as to call him his "campaign manager." ^[2] Additionally, he held an American passport. ^[3]

Personal life

Karzai had a pet lion and smoked cigars. ^{[2] [4]} He was called by many in Kandahar as the "Lion of Kandahar". ^{[2] [4]}

Death

Hashmat Karzai was killed by a suicide bomber at his private residence in Karz near Kandahar on July 29, 2014. ^{[2] [3] [4] [1]}

References

1. Hashmat Baktash, Bomber who killed Afghan president's cousin hid explosives under cap, The Los Angeles Times ,
2. Afghanistan bomber kills president's cousin Hashmat Karzai, BBC ,
3. Margherita Stancati, Powerful Cousin of Afghan President Karzai Killed in Kandahar, The Wall Street Journal , July 29, 2014
4. Kandahar suicide attack kills cousin of Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, The Guardian , July 29, 2014