KABUL (SW): The Wolesi Jirga (lower house) on Wednesday urged upon the National Unity Government (NUG) to swiftly investigate allegations of gross human rights’ violations and sexual assault by the First Vice President Gen. Abdul Rasheed Dostum.
A day earlier, Ahmad Ischi, former governor of the Jawzjan province charged Dostum for abducting him, molesting him and torturing him for days while in private custody. The incident reportedly occurred last month in Dostum’s hometown Sheberghan but, was made public yesterday by the victim Ahmad Ischi, a former labour leader who helped Dostum form the Junbish-e-Islami (Islamic Movement) party.
Taking part in a debate on this issue, members of the house pronounced the incident as a ‘national shame’ while calling for thorough and impartial investigations.
Kamal Nasir Osoli, member of the house said while taking part in the debate that if proven true, Dostum should be dismissed from his post and held accountable for the heinous crime, but if the allegations are proven wrong then Ahmad Ischi should be punished accordingly. “If these allegations are true and proved by the Attorney General’s Office, then the man is no more an Afghan and belongs to any other religion”, he said.
Abdul Rauf Inami, another member of the house said on the occasion that this incident has brought shame to the whole nation. He went on to say that because of such incidents many countries do not grant visas to the Afghans.
Meanwhile, some members of the house defended the Vice President. Bashir Ahmad Tenig, spokesman of Dostum-led Junbish party said on the floor that Ahmad Ischi had personal feud with the VP that led to these allegations. “This is a conspiracy; firstly efforts to physically harm the Vice President did not work then the effort to siege him also did not work now the aim is to damage his personality”, he said.
ENDS
