Hashmat Karzai

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

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

Personal life
Karzai had a pet lion and smoked cigars. He was called by many in Kandahar as the "Lion of Kandahar".

Death
Hashmat Karzai was killed by a suicide bomber at his private residence in Karz near Kandahar on July 29, 2014.