Haji Abdul Zahir Qadeer (Pashto: حاجی عبدالظاهر قدیر) is an Afghan politician and former member of the National Assembly.[3][4][5][6] He was previously a General in Afghanistan's Border Guard, serving as 8th Border Battalion Commander, Takhar Province.[1][7] In 2010 he was elected to the House of the People as the member for Nangarhar, and was elected First Deputy Speaker in 2012.[1]
Zahir Qadeer ظاهر قدیر | |
|---|---|
 Qadeer in 2015 | |
| Member of the House of the People | |
| In office 2010–2021 | |
| Parliamentary group | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1973 (age 50–51) Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan |
| Political party | Independent |
| Relatives | Haji Abdul Qadeer (father) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |
| Branch/service | Afghan Border Police |
| Rank | General |
Zahir Qadeer is the son of Haji Abdul Qadeer, a senior member of the anti-Taliban United Islamic Front (Northern Alliance) and one of the first Vice Presidents of the Afghan Transitional Administration. Zahir Qadeer's father and brother-in-law were assassinated on 8 July 2002.[8]
He was born to a Pashtun family that has long-standing ties with Mohammed Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan. He graduated from a high school in Saudi Arabia and studied law in Pakistan.[1]
Zahir Qadeer and two other anti-Taliban leaders were freed from a Taliban prison in 1999 by Abdul-Razzaq Hekmati and Hekmatullah Hekmati, two former Mujahids who had served with the Taliban when they became disillusioned.[7]
On 30 August 2017, at least two security guards were killed in a suicide attack targeting his residence in Jalalabad.[9] Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Qadeer, Abdul Zahir Haji Qadir Qader Zaheer". afghan-bios.info. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Ruttig, Thomas (11 July 2011). "Parliament Crisis: Impeachment and Other Threats". afghanistan-analysts.org. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Afghan House Speaker Votes End with no Results". TOLO News. January 2011.
- ^ Burke, Jason (6 October 2002). "A year of living on the edge". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
- ^ "Pak seals border temporarily following shootout in Afghanistan". Outlook India. 8 November 2002. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
- ^ "Border clashes open new Afghan front line". London: The Telegraph. 18 July 2003. Archived from the original on 10 December 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
- ^ a b Carlotta Gall, Andy Worthington (5 February 2008). "Time Runs Out for an Afghan Held by the U.S." New York Times. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
Two of those officials were men Mr. Hekmati had helped escape from the Taliban's top security prison in Kandahar in 1999: Ismail Khan, now the minister of energy; and Hajji Zaher, a general in the Border Guards. Both men said they appealed to American officials about Mr. Hekmati's case, but to no effect."What he did was very important for all Afghan people who were against the Taliban," Hajji Zaher said of Mr. Hekmati's role in organizing his prison break. "He was not a man to take to Guantánamo." Hajji Zaher, whose father served as vice president under Mr. Karzai for six months, warned that the case of Mr. Hekmati, who is widely known here by his nickname, Baraso, would discourage Afghans from backing the government against the Taliban. "No one is going to help the government," he said.
- ^ Meena Baktash (8 July 2002). "Abdul Qadir: Key leader in Afghan struggle". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
- ^ "Suicide attack on Afghan MP's residence kills 2". Anadolu Agency. 30 August 2017.
- ^ "Islamic State claims attack on house of Afghan lawmaker". reuters.com. Reuters. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2024.