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KABUL (SW) – Findings by Salam Watandar indicate Hayatullah Samangani – a candidate for the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) with known criminal record – has been listed among the winners from Samangan province.
The accused, Hayatullah Samangai, also known as ‘Bari Comandan’ had previously served as police chief for Hazrat Sultan district. Findings by SW indicate the locals of Hazrat Sultan have staged multiple protest demonstrations against his criminal activities, killings and spread of terror. They urged the provincial administration, police headquarters, and regional 707- police command in the area against the appointment of Samangani.
However, years have passed, but these complaints have not been addressed. And, now Samangai has got his name among the winners of WJ seat from the province.
Haji Burhan Khwaja, a local elder from the Ebak city of the province, told SW Samangai wished to kill him and his son in the Larghan area two years ago. According to Khwaja, his son got injured in this incident.
A police report dating 21/08/1396 notes that a police team of five officers was attacked by men associated with Hayatullah Samangani in which the son of Burhan Khwaja got injured.
The Ministry of Interior has also issued directives to police in Samangan for the arrest of Samangani and another man named Hekmatullah alias ‘Tor Qomandan’ over extortion and other crimes charged by Burhan Khwaja. However, findings indicate all efforts by the police and attorney general’s provincial office have failed to yield results in regard to Samangani’s arrest.
The local elder, Burhan Khwaja, said the locals have tried hard to raise their voice against the atrocities of Samangani, but to no avail.
In connection with the allegations levelled by the locals against Samangani, the provincial governor formed a committee comprised of officials from the NDS, provincial administration, police and directorate of finance. The report compiled by this committee stated: “The accused Hekmatullah charged by Burhan Khwaja did not appear to share information. Multiple arrest warrants have been issued through police headquarters, directorate of intelligence, anti-terrorism directorate, and NDS. However, the accused were not arrested by these institutions. The NDS stated in response to these warrants that the accused Hekmatullah has travelled abroad while Hayatullah Samangani, service police officer, was not present at home, and is on the run from the police”.
Two local elders, Juma Raes and Haji Kher Mohammad, from Hazrat Sultan district, have charged Hayatullah for murder. These elders said they opposed the appointment of Samangani as district police chief, but their protests failed to yield any result.
Findings by SW also indicate that after quitting his job as police officer, Samangani did not return an array of arms, ammunition and communication devices to the headquarters. In this while, he nominated himself for the WJ elections, and the initial results indicate he has secured more than nine thousand votes as the second top vote winner from Samangan.
The provincial office of the Independent Election Complaint Commission, did not gave clear answers in connection with the allegations levelled against Samangani. However, it said the IECC would remove some names and give warnings to others for violation of electoral rules, and Samangani might be one of them.
Assadullah Azimi, provincial head of IECC, said though they started working late, but managed to address some complaints here.
Meanwhile, Samangani has rejected all allegations, saying personal and tribal feuds have resulted in conspiracies against him. He claimed to have returned all arms and ammunitions to the police headquarters before contesting WJ polls.
Salam Watandar has published a number of investigative reports about certain WJ candidates charged with different crimes.
ENDS
