KABUL/GHAZNI - Wolesi Jirga members from southern Ghazni province say the fate of 14 people kidnapped from Qarabagh district five months ago is yet to be known.
MP Mohammad Arif Rahmani hit out at security officials, saying: “The fate of 10 people kidnapped five months ago and four others abducted two months back in Qarabagh district is still shrouded in mystery.”
He alleged they had been abducted by relatives of local security officials to provoke fighting. Rahmani, however, did not provide more details but claimed the Ghazni security personnel were behind the kidnappings.
Nafisa Azimi, another lawmaker from Ghazni, saw the kidnapping of people from a specific tribe as an attempt to create disputes among local people.
“Security organs are responsible for determining the fate of these people -- an issue shared several times with the authorities concerned. However, the issue was paid no attention,” she said, asking the government to take decisive steps in the regard.
Wolesi Jirga Speaker Abdur Rauf Ibrahimi expressed concern over the kidnappings and asked security forces to take determined measures to rescue the captives. He promising grilling the security officials who would be summoned to the lower house.
Ghazni police spokesman Fahim Amarkhel said four of the victims had been kidnapped by Taliban after a dispute erupted among them over irrigation water. The police district chiefs visited the area but none of the parties came to the negotiation table.
Mohammad Arif Noori, the governor’s spokesman, said they had tried to resolve the issue through tribal elders, but only one side expressed its willingness for talks.
He charged some political figures with hampering efforts to resolve the dispute. Ten people had been kidnapped but six of them were released as a result of mediation by influential figures, he concluded. (Pajhwok)