An ethnic Pashtun from the Ghilji Sahak tribe, Abdul Zahir was born in the village of De Baghalak in Mihtarlam District of Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan.

[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Abdul Zahir became a medical doctor and returned to Afghanistan to practice medicine, but eventually entered politics.

His political positions included terms as Minister of Health, Speaker of House of the People from 1961 to 1968,[10] and Ambassador to Italy and Pakistan.

He resigned from his post and lived in Peshawar, Pakistan, where he started a campaign for peace in Afghanistan by setting up a political group called the Afghan National Movement (ANM).

His youngest daughter, Belqiss Zahir is currently living in Germany and runs a beauty salon.