Hamid Saeed Kazmi

Hamid Saeed Kazmi (Urdu: حامد سعید کاظمی‎; born October 3, 1957 in Multan, Pakistan, is a prominent leader of Sunni community of Pakistan. He is vocal critic of Taliban and other terrorist organisations in Pakistan and has extended his support to war on terror.^[1] In 2009 he survived terrorist attack on his life. He has served as Federal Minister for Religious Affairs in the cabinet of prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani. He follows Barelvi interpretation of Sunni Islam.^[2]

Family

Kazmi was born in a well-to-do religious family; his father, Ahmad Saeed Kazmi, was a prominent Sufi and Islamic scholar. He is one among eleven siblings.^[3] Kazmi is married and has two daughters and two sons.^[4] Family His father Syed Ahmad Saeed Kazmi son of Syed Muhammad Mukhtar Ahmad Shah Kazmi belonged to Amroha, India. They migrated to Multan in 1935. The family relates with Imam Musa Kazim through 35 steps, and this is why he is called Kazmi.

Political career and Education

He obtained a Master of Arts degree from the Bahauddin Zakariya University in 1985. He has been elected MNA on the ticket of PPPP from NA-192 by defeating Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Alam Anwar of PML.

Views on extremism and terrorism

Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi is of the view that Pakistan stands today at the most critical juncture of its history and a wave of violent acts in the form of suicide attacks, bomb blasts, sabotage activities, attacks on security personal and state installations is sweeping across the country. The problem of extremists and terrorism is, therefore, closely linked with our political, economic and social system.The Minister said that education can play the most critical role to help the youth get rid of extremists and radical ideas.^[5]

Survived terrorist attack

He survived an apparent attempt on his life by motorcycle-borne gunmen who shot at his car near a bustling market in the capital on 2 Sep, 2009 afternoon.The driver of the vehicle was killed on the spot, while a security guard was wounded. The Minister was wounded in the leg and underwent surgery for fractures.While the police did not comment on the possible motives for the drive-by attack, Mr. Kazmi, a member of the Pakistan People’s Party, is known to be a vocal critic of the Taliban.Before the attack, he had participated in conferences of anti-Taliban religious leaders. At one such conference, the gathered ulema declared suicide bombing as un-Islamic.^[6]

Former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, Federal Ministers, Ministers of State, religious scholars and people from other walks of life condemned the attack on Kazmi, with the government assuring strict action against culprits and bring them to justice.

References

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