Fazal Haq Mujahid

Fazal Haq Mujahid was born in 1954 to a highly respected family of Akhunzadgan, his father being Noorulhaq from Rodat district of Nangarhar province. In the 1960s, he earned his basic education at a local school in HisarShahi Village and then went for further education to the city of Lashkargah in Helmand province where he got admission in Agriculture College after completing his Bacaluria. In early 1970s, Mujahid has been admitted in the faculty of Agriculture at Kabul University. There he joined the opposition organization and Central Executive Committee of Hezbi Islami Afghanistan. Hezbi Islami career Along the years, Mujahid took various position within the Hezbi Islami party : Deputy chairman of Provincial Affairs Commission of the party, Chairman of Financial Affairs of the party, Chief Mediator of party on some occasions for within party problems and problem with other factions, Commander of Zafar Brigade, Amir of Nangarhar Province, Chairman of Party's Eastern Zone Council (Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan ), few times acting Amir of the Hezbi Islami, One of the Five Members of Nangarhar Shoora Supreme Council, Chairman of Eastern Zone Military Council of Eastern Council and Head of Nangarhar Garrison and once Interior Minister of Afghanistan. He was one of the most prominent Islamic figures and well known as one of the most powerful military and political leaders of the Mujahideen against the aggressive Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, his robust resistance earned him the title ‘Mujahid’. As an Afghan war veteran and politician who also served on several key political and leadership roles, Mujahid was known for helping to establish one of the most influential, diverse and significant Islamic revivalist organisations, Hezb-e-Islami (‘Islamic Party’). The organisation became one of the most substantial and effective movements in Afghanistan as a result of Mujahid’s powerful political and military leadership and direction, quickly gathering the support of millions of Afghans. Hezb-e-Islami was a group that stood firmly against the then-communist government of Afghanistan, as well as against the government’s close ally at the time, the Soviet Union. Mujahid’s close friend and ally, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, was one of the most charismatic leaders of the Islamic world in the 1980s and 1990s. Hekmatyar is the founder and current leader of Hezb-e-Islami, which he set up alongside his associates in 1975. The armed group of Hezb-e-Islami, which is the second largest in the country, played a key role in the successful defeat of the Soviet invasion. Hezb-i-Islami is ideologically influenced by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and Syed Abul A’la Maududi’s Jamaat-e-Islami. Seen as a visionary of Islamic thought, Mujahid focused on instilling Islam’s universality whilst defying injustice. This, together with his military and political involvement, earned him a highly respected role in the country despite its complicated and diverse political spectrum. Twenty three years since, Mujahid is still considered to be one of the very few undisputed political leaders who fought the ruthless Soviet army to become victorious and help establish a government to solve the political crisis. As a result of Mujahid’s hard work and efforts, Nangarhar province saw an early and balanced administration amid the disagreeable and severe political circumstances in the country. Mujahid was assassinated while returning home from Maghreb prayers in the town of Hayatabad, Peshawar, Pakistan on May 31, 1997.