Halimzai (politician)

Halimzai (Pashto Haleem Zay, born February 11, 1959) was a senior activist in the PDPA. He was a lecturer in Chemistry in Kabul University for some years and afterwards because of his involvement in politics he decided to join a higher secondary school in Kabul as lecturer in Chemistry.

Early life & education

Halimzai was born on February 11, 1959 in Gajana village of Deh Bala district in Ningarhar province. His father was an accountant in the Pushtani Tijarati Bank of Afghanistan. Halimzai belongs to the Hamza Khel sub-tribe of the Shinwari tribe. At the age of five, Halimzai lost his mother who was suffering from Malaria and was raised by his grandmother. Halimzai received his primary education from Papeen Lisa (Papeen Higher Scondary School) in Papeen village. As his father was a government servant so he would go to different cities of Afghanistan as per transfer policy. When Halimzai completed his primary education, his father told him to go to Kabul. Halimzai went to Kabul and got admission in Lisa-e- Aali-e-Ibne-Sina (Ibne-Sina Higher Secondary School). He got his secondary and higher secondary education in 1974. Halimzai got admission in the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Kabul University and studied Chemistry. He did his B.S (Honors) in Chemistry from Kabul University in 1978. Those years were of Communists and the great Revolutionists and Halimzai was also involved in the Communist Movement in his University years. Nur Mohammad Junbish, a columnist, writer says AbOUT him: "Halimzai was a very emotional, energetic young student. Whenever he would start his speech to bring about Marxist-Leninist or Communist Revolution everyone would be stunned."

Halimzai was very young when he was graduated and was appointed as lecturer in Chemistry in Deh Bala Higher Secondary School. Afterwards he taught Chemistry in Kabul University and was a member of the Khalq faction of PDPA. He went to the USSR for higher studies and did his specialisation in Physical Chemistry from Kazakistan. He studied an Marxism in Moscow afterwards. He taught Chemistry in Moscow University for some months when he moved back to Kabul and got married to the daughter of Engr. Sher Mohammad Shinwari in 1983.

Political career

Halimzai was a member of the Hizb-e-demokratike Khalq-e-Afghanistan. Some years later, Mohammad Zahir Ofoq formed a new party and Halimzai joined his party as Chief Secretary. This new party was named Jamiat-e-Inqilabi-e-Zahmat Kashan-e-Afghanistan. In 1986 when Karmal resigned and Dr. Najibullah became the new President, he formed a coalition government with Ofoq. Halimzai was selected as a member of the Central Committee and would make policy for the Ministry of Education, Health, Higher Education Commission and Academy of Letters. Halimzai strongly opposed Shahnawaz Tanai's coup on Najibullah's regime. In 1992 when Mujahedeen took over the control of Kabul, Halimzai moved to Pakistan and is residing in NWFP. He joined a fruit market as an accountant. Halimzai is one of the few Communists of Afghanistan who always acted upon the ideology of Marx and Lenin. He always remained hand to mouth and a very patriotic person. Halimzai never took advantage of his political affiliation.