Zaid Hamid

{{Infobox biography

| name = Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid
سید زید الزمان حامد

| image =

| image_size =

| birth_name = Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|March 14, 1964}}{{cite news|title=Will the real Zaid Hamid please stand up?|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/11701/will-the-real-zaid-hamid-please-stand-up/|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=9 May 2010|author=Amber Rahim Shamsi|access-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111130151/http://tribune.com.pk/story/11701/will-the-real-zaid-hamid-please-stand-up/|archive-date=11 January 2014|url-status=live}}

| birth_place = Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

| nationality = Pakistani

| citizenship = Pakistani

| alma_mater = NEDUET{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/07/top1.htm|title=States cannot survive under dictatorship: CJ|date=7 May 2007|newspaper=DAWN|access-date=27 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109204016/http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/07/top1.htm|archive-date=9 November 2007|url-status=live}}

| other_names =

| notable_works =

| occupation = Pakistan Army

Political analyst

Security Consultant

Political Commentator

| organization = Brass Tacks

| website = {{URL|http://www.zaidhamid.pk}}

}}

{{Infobox YouTube personality

| channel_id = UCM0OrIdvSeJFa1DCgdykz4w

| channel_display_name = Zaid Zaman Hamid Official

| subscribers = 62.7 thousand

| views = 2.94 million

| stats_update = 20 September 2023

| years_active = 2011–present

| silver_button =

| silver_year =

}}

Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|سید زید زمان حامد}}}}), better known as Zaid Hamid, is a Pakistani far-right Islamist political commentator and conspiracy theorist.{{cite news|url=https://jamestown.org/program/pakistans-militant-conspiracy-theorist-zaid-hamid/|title=Pakistani Militant Conspiracy Theorist Zaid Hamid|work=Jamestown|access-date=12 February 2019|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021149/https://jamestown.org/program/pakistans-militant-conspiracy-theorist-zaid-hamid/|archive-date=18 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137782|title=Hate speech -- II: The Pakistan report card|last=Zaka|first=Fasi|date=25 September 2008|work=The International News|location=Karachi, Pakistan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016060824/http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137782|archive-date=16 October 2008}}

Born to a Pakistan Army officer and a Kashmiri mother, Zaid is a supporter of Jihad and supports Kashmir-centric anti-government organizations.{{Cite web |last=Moini |first=Qasim A. |date=3 July 2015 |title=Situationer: The Zaid Hamid enigma |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1191979 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809105250/https://www.dawn.com/news/1191979 |archive-date=9 August 2019 |website=DAWN}} He claims he fought in Soviet-Afghan War. He is a supporter of Pakistan Army interventions in matters of state and actively campaigns against democracy in Pakistan. He supports Islamic system of government.

In 2019, The Muslim 500 included him in their yearly most influential Muslims in the world, as a political commentator and host of TV series on geo-politics, Islamic philosophy, Muslim history, and Dr. Iqbal’s vision for Pakistan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themuslim500.com/profiles/zaid-hamid/|title=Zaid Hamid|website=The Muslim 500|publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901145344/https://www.themuslim500.com/profiles/zaid-hamid/|archive-date=1 September 2019|access-date=2019-09-01}}

Historian Manan Ahmed Asif called him the leading voice of a new Pakistani revivalism, because he radicalizes young, urban men and women under the age of 30 — the largest demographics of Pakistan — into a mixture of militant Pakistani nationalism and Islamism.Manan Ahmed (11 March 2010), [https://www.thenational.ae/uae/pakistan-s-new-paranoia-1.561795 "Pakistan's new paranoia"], The National UAE. Retrieved 26 April 2020.

Early life and education

Zaid was born on March 14, 1964, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan to a Bihari Muhajir father and a Kashmiri Muslim mother. His father was a Pakistan Army officer. He studied computer systems at the NED University of Engineering & Technology in Karachi. He is second of his four siblings. His father fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and 1971.{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/11701/will-the-real-zaid-hamid-please-stand-up|title=Will the real Zaid Hamid please stand up? - The Express Tribune|last=Shamsi|first=Amber Rahim|date=13 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313014913/https://tribune.com.pk/story/11701/will-the-real-zaid-hamid-please-stand-up/|archive-date=13 March 2017}}

Political views

Hamid claims that the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India were part of a plan hatched by "Hindu Zionists", and that it was an attempt by the Indians to stage a false flag attack, which he accuses the 9/11 attacks of being.{{cite news|last=Ahmed|first=Issam|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2010/0510/Educated-and-radical-Why-Pakistan-produces-Faisal-Shahzads|title=Educated and radical: Why Pakistan produces Faisal Shahzads|date=10 May 2010|work=Christian Science Monitor|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512051819/http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2010/0510/Educated-and-radical-Why-Pakistan-produces-Faisal-Shahzads|archive-date=12 May 2010}}

On May 27, 2011, he claimed on News One TV channel that Ajmal Qasab's real name was Amar Singh. He was a Sikh and a RAW agent. He also called him a BJP terrorist. His associate's name was Heera Laal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIEU_wf9USU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/cIEU_wf9USU |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title = Zaid Hamid Exposed Ajmal Kasab as a hindu!|website = YouTube|date=27 May 2011 }}{{cbignore}}

In May 2020, Zaid Hamid said that the COVID vaccine will rid the Muslims of Islamic spirit. COVID is less dangerous than flu. Bill Gates wants to kill the people of this region.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0ZrOjTPSDQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/_0ZrOjTPSDQ |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title = Pakistanis see chip in medicines|website = YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

On August 6, 2021, he tweeted: "I strongly believe that Pakistan must abandon the UN resolutions (on Kashmir) now...They are dead."

Hamid believes that Islamic-prophet Muhammad had declared war on India, a claim with no reference in Islam, and that India will be "trounced and enslaved according to Sharia if Hindus don’t repent and embrace Islam."{{cite news|author1=Khaled Ahmed|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/an-islamic-superman/|title=An Islamic superman|date=13 August 2015|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701192801/http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/an-islamic-superman/|archive-date=1 July 2016}}

Criticism

A number of Pakistani journalists, writers and Islamic scholars{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} have criticized Hamid and have described his views on politics and security as conspiracy theories.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/844855/clear-and-present-danger|title=Clear and present danger|date=14 December 2009|work=Dawn|access-date=29 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529085437/http://www.dawn.com/news/844855/clear-and-present-danger|archive-date=29 May 2014}}{{cite news|title=Declaring sanity|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/701110/declaring-sanity|work=Dawn|author=Nadeem F. Paracha|author-link=Nadeem F. Paracha|date=8 March 2012|access-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529103317/http://www.dawn.com/news/701110/declaring-sanity|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Zaka|first=Fasi|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=230743|title=Hate speech III -- The Pakistan report card|date=25 March 2010|work=The International News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329000759/http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=230743|archive-date=29 March 2010}} Zaid Hamid has been criticized as xenophobic and accused of hate speech towards Hindus and Jews.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/812980/in-defence-of-reason|title=In defence of reason|author=Nadeem F. Paracha|work=Dawn|date=11 August 2009|access-date=11 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913202740/http://www.dawn.com/news/812980/in-defence-of-reason|archive-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author1=Ludovica Iaccino|title=Saudi Arabia: Pakistan's controversial Zaid Hamid faces 1,000 lashes and 8 years in jail for criticising kingdom|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/saudi-arabia-pakistans-controversial-zaid-hamid-faces-1000-lashes-8-years-jail-criticising-1508767|access-date=5 May 2016|work=International Business Times UK|date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530122924/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/saudi-arabia-pakistans-controversial-zaid-hamid-faces-1000-lashes-8-years-jail-criticising-1508767|archive-date=30 May 2016|url-status=live}}

In 2013, Imaad Khalid, a former staff member of Zaid Hamid, revealed at a press conference, that Zaid Hamid was plotting to assassinate Pro-democracy Army Chief, Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani.{{cite news | url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1057478 | title=Zaid Hamid accused of plotting to kill key figures | work=Dawn | author=Hasan Mansoor | date=21 November 2013 | access-date=20 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903075214/http://www.dawn.com/news/1057478 | archive-date=3 September 2014 | url-status=live }} He showed to the media the emails that he claims were sent by Zaid Hamid to different Army officers asking them for a revolt against their own chief. He said "Zaid Hamid is a quisling and enemy of Islam and Pakistan, who had plotted unsuccessfully to assassinate the pro-democracy army chief Gen Kayani." Khalid further claimed that Zaid's hit list also contained the names of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and others from the media and the judiciary.

Ali Usman Qasmi criticizes him for having an "extreme hatred of Hindus and Jews."{{Cite journal|last=Qasmi|first=Ali Usman|date=July 2019|title=A Master Narrative for the History of Pakistan: Tracing the origins of an ideological agenda|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-asian-studies/article/abs/master-narrative-for-the-history-of-pakistan-tracing-the-origins-of-an-ideological-agenda/1D4DDE9FF50994DE50C41C1867969B2A|journal=Modern Asian Studies|language=en|volume=53|issue=4|pages=1066–1105|doi=10.1017/S0026749X17000427|s2cid=149902946 |issn=0026-749X|url-access=subscription}}

Arrest in Saudi Arabia

In June 2015, Hamid was arrested in Saudi Arabia for opposing Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. He was visiting the Kingdom on a private tour with family when he was arrested.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/910179/zaid-hamid-arrested-in-saudi-arabia/|title=Zaid Hamid arrested in Saudi Arabia|date=26 June 2015|work=The Express Tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628135853/http://tribune.com.pk/story/910179/zaid-hamid-arrested-in-saudi-arabia/|archive-date=28 June 2015}}

On July 1, 2015, media sources began citing unconfirmed reports that Hamid has been sentenced to 8 years in prison, and 1,000 or 1,200 lashes, for criticizing the Saudi government.{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/912893/zaid-hamid-sentenced-to-8-years-1000-lashes-in-saudi-arabia-report|title=Zaid Hamid sentenced to 8 years, 1,000 lashes in Saudi Arabia: report|date=1 July 2015|work=The Express Tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702084039/http://tribune.com.pk/story/912893/zaid-hamid-sentenced-to-8-years-1000-lashes-in-saudi-arabia-report/|archive-date=2 July 2015}}{{cite news|author=Ali|first=Sarfraz|url=http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/zahid-hamid-sentenced-to-eight-years-prison-1200-lashes-for-criticising-saudi-govt/|title=Zaid Hamid reportedly sentenced to eight years prison, 1,200 lashes for criticizing Saudi government|date=1 July 2015|work=Daily Pakistan Global|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701195720/http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/zahid-hamid-sentenced-to-eight-years-prison-1200-lashes-for-criticising-saudi-govt/|archive-date=1 July 2015}} Media reports later claimed these reports about the sentence could not be verified.{{cite news|author=Vij|first=Shivam|url=http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/28451/no-zaid-hamid-isnt-getting-saudi-lashes-not-yet/|title=No, Zaid Hamid isn't getting Saudi lashes. Not yet|date=5 July 2015|work=The Express Tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707000003/http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/28451/no-zaid-hamid-isnt-getting-saudi-lashes-not-yet/|archive-date=7 July 2015}} The Pakistan embassy has officially requested consular access and information about the charges against Hamid.{{Cite press release|title=Record of the Press Briefing by Spokesperson on 06th August 2015|date=6 August 2015|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|url=http://www.mofa.gov.pk/pr-details.php?mm=Mjk5OA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818215539/http://mofa.gov.pk/pr-details.php?mm=Mjk5OA|archive-date=18 August 2017}} He was released in the start of October 2015{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1210660/zaid-hamid-returns-to-pakistan-after-ksa-arrest|title=Zaid Hamid returns to Pakistan after KSA arrest|author=Mateen Haider|date=3 October 2015|website=DAWN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004024505/http://www.dawn.com/news/1210660/zaid-hamid-returns-to-pakistan-after-ksa-arrest|archive-date=4 October 2015|access-date=3 October 2015}} due to lack of evidence and baseless allegation of spying for Iran.{{cite web|url=http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/revealed-why-zaid-hamid-was-detained-in-saudi-arabia/|title=REVEALED: Why was Zaid Hamid detained in Saudi Arabia?|author=Rehman|first=Dawood|date=12 October 2015|work=Daily Pakistan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216002208/http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/revealed-why-zaid-hamid-was-detained-in-saudi-arabia|archive-date=16 February 2016}} Hamid alleges that the allegation of spying was hatched up by the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's spy agency.

During an interview in 2020, Mr. Hamid claimed that then Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif and DG ISI Lt. General Rizwan Akhtar had played an instrumental role in securing his release.{{cite web |title=Zaid Hamid sb - Channel 7 - April 25, 2020 |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=B0J6xiiDMXQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/B0J6xiiDMXQ |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|website=YouTube | date=25 April 2020 |access-date=15 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}

Books

His books include:{{Cite web |title=Zaid Hamid |url=https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL6607149A/Zaid_Hamid |website=Open Library}}

=Urdu=

Pākistān : ek ʻishq, ek junūn. Booklet describing account of freedom struggle for Pakistan.
Islām kā siyāsī taṣavvur : Pākistān men̲ maz̲habī o firqahvārānah tashaddud. Booklet on political thoughts in Islam, includes a brief history of sectarian violence in Pakistan from 1979 to 1996.
Dahshat gardī ke k̲h̲ilāf Amrīkī jang. Critical study of war on terror.
Hindū ṣaihūnīyat. Critical study of Pak-India relations from ancient times to 21st century.
Yahūdī aur ʻĪsāʼī Ṣaihūnīyat. Booklet on alleged Jewish and Christian conspiracies against Muslims.
Maujūdah Pāk Afghān taʻalluqāt, ek tārīk̲h̲ almīyah. Historical study of Pakistan and Afghanistan relations; critical review.
Iqbal Purisrar. On the life and thought of Muhammad Iqbal.
Halqa-E-Yaran. A novel concerning matters of spirituality, in the spirit of Ashfaq Ahmed.
Khilafat-e-Rashida. On the Rashidun caliphs, their system of governance and justice.

=English=

Mumbai : dance of the devil : Hindu Zionists, Mumbai attacks, and the Indian dossier against Pakistan
From Indus to Oxus : memoirs. Memoirs of author highlighting his role in Soviet-Afghan war, 1979–1989; includes his visits and meeting with Afghan leaders in Afghanistan during 1986–1992. Later translated into Urdu by himself as Daryā e Sindh sai daryā e Āmūtak : yād'dāshtīn̲.