Qazis of Hyderabad

The Qazis of Hyderabad (Urdu: حيدر آباد قاضی ) (also spelled "Kazis") are an established political family from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. They are known by their title, Qazi, which is the name given to certain Judges under Islamic Law, instead of their last name "Abbasi". The family has been involved in Politics and Journalism for generations. Four generations of the family have held office and have included the following:

* Qazi Abdul Qayyum, the first Muslim President of the Hyderabad Municipality
* Qazi Muhammad Akbar, a long serving Sindh Provincial Minister, Ambassador of Pakistan, and son of Qazi Abdul Qayyum
* Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid (Qazi Abid), a four time Federal Minister, Sindh Provincial Minister, and son of Qazi Abdul Qayyum
* Qazi Muhammad Azam, a three time Member of Parliament (West Pakistan National Assembly) (in 1965,1971 and 1977) and son of Qazi Abdul Qayyum
* Fahmida Mirza, the current Speaker of the National Assembly, three time Member of the National Assembly, and daughter of Qazi Abid
* Qazi Asad Abid, a former Member of the National Assembly and son of Qazi Abid.
* Ameena Ashraf, a former Member of the National Assembly and the Sindh Provincial Assembly and daughter of Qazi Muhammad Akbar
* Pir Mazhar Ul Haq, a three time Sindh Provincial Minister, present Senior Minister in the Sindh Provincial Cabinet, and grandson of Qazi Muhammad Akbar
* Marvi Mazhar, a former Member of the Provincial Assembly in Sindh and daughter of Pir Mazhar Ul Haq

The family originally hailed from Sewan in Sindh and migrated to Hyderabad when Qazi Abdul Qayyum settled there. The Qazis also have other relatives in Pakistani politics in other parts of Sindh. Qazi Abdul Qayyum's brother, Hakim Fatemah Muhammad Sewani, settled in Karachi after leaving Sewan, where his son and a cousin of Qazi Abid and Qazi Akbar, Hakeem Muhammad Ahsan, became the first Mayor of Karachi after independence in 1947, and later served as an Ambassador of Pakistan to numerous countries, and as a Senior Provincial Minister in Sindh. Another relative, Zulfiqar Mirza, a cousin of the Qazis, and husband of Fahmida Mirza, has also been a Member of the National Assembly and is presently the Home Minister in the Sindh Provincial Cabinet.

In journalistic circles, the family publishes several Sindhi language newspapers including the Daily Ibrat. In addition, the family served the journalistic community through its involvement in the All Pakistan Newspapers Society. Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid was its Secretary-General thrice, Qazi Aslam Akbar was its Secretary-General four times, and Qazi Asad Abid was its Secretary-General an unprecedented nine times.

The Qazis have been elected from many constituencies outside of Hyderabad. For example, Pir Mazhar Ul Haq has traditionally been elected from Dadu and Fahmida Mirza from Badin.

See also

* Political families of Pakistan

External links

* Renowned Journalist Kazi Nazeer passes away http://www.myjournalists.com/?p=47
* Fehmida Mirza wins thumping majority in Speaker election http://www.sindhtoday.net/pakistan/213.htm
* Race on for Successor http://www.dawn.com/2008/08/19/top2.htm