Hashmat Karzai

Hashmat Khan Karzai
Died	July 29, 2014 Karz, Afghanistan
Cause of death	Suicide bombing
Nationality	Afghan, American
Occupation(s)	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