KABUL - President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday singed orders for the release of Afghan photographer Najibullah Musafir, the presidential spokesman said.

Ajmal Abid told Pajhwok Afghan News Musafir would be released after the required formalities were met. The spokesman, however, would not elaborate on the formalities.

Musafir had been detained in 2006 over photo shoots of two girls carrying a sport banner at the Ghazi stadium in Kabul. The photos were later edited and used for commercial purposes by one of the companies.

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah had also hinted at the release of the photographer.

The Ministry of Information and Culture expressed concerns over the misuse of the photographs and said it had been kept unaware of Musafir’s prosecution.

According to the ministry, a commission has been formed to deal with cases of plagiarism, duplication and other acts of misuse.

The ministry lamented the case of Musafir was not referred to the commission. The detention of the photographer had fuelled anger among civil society organisations.   (Pajhwok)