Qazis of Hyderabad

The Qazis of Hyderabad, Sindh (Urdu: حيدر آباد سنده قاضی ‎) (also spelled "Kazis") are an established Pakistani and Sindhi political family from Hyderabad, Sindh. Most, though not all, members of the family that were in politics were 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 for at least five generations.

The Qazi/Abbasi family originally hailed from Sewan in Sindh and migrated to Hyderabad when Qazi Abdul Qayyum settled there. Qazi Abdul Qayyum's brother, Hakeem Fatemah Muhammad Sewani, who chose to use the title Hakeem, settled in Karachi after leaving Sewan, where he established another branch of the family.

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 and Zulfiqar Mirza from Badin.

Members of the family that have held office have included the following:

First Generation

Second Generation

Third Generation

Fourth Generation

Fifth Generation

United States Expansion

The Family has also expanded to the United States where Qazi Daniel Abbasi, grandson of Qazi Abdul Majid Abid, was a political appointee at the United States Environmental Protection Agency under President William Jefferson Clinton. Qazi Azfar (Sonny) Abbasi, also a grandson of Qazi Abjul Majid Abid, has been active in Democratic Party Politics for over twenty-five years in supporting various candidates at all levels.

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