Hafez Zahir

Mahmoud Zahir is the current President of Dayganistan. He has been serving in this position since 2004, when his father, Mahmoud Zahir, announced he would not stand for re-election citing health concerns. He is widely considered to be an authoritarian leader.

Personal Life
Zahir has been married to his wife, Aryana, since 1983. They have two daughters, Tala (born 1984) and Parastoo (born 1987), and one son, Ghazi (born 1997).

Controversies
There is a movement in Dayganistan which believes Zahir to be of Hazara descent. Zahir dismisses these claims, claiming mixed Tajik and Pashtun heritage. Those who believe Zahir to be Hazara demand he take a DNA test and make the findings public. Some of the more vocal perputuators of the so called "Hazara Conspiracy" have found themselves imprisoned on charges such as "Undermining the Republic" and "Disturbing National Unity."

Zahir was widely criticized by Daygani pro-democracy activists at home and abroad when he established the post of Vice President and immediately appointed his wife to the post following his 2016 re-election.