KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of Wolesi Jirga members have criticised lawmaker Zahir Qadir for accusing the National Security Advisor of supporting Islamic State (IS) or Daesh, but Qadir said he would resign if failed to prove his allegations.
On November 23, Zahir Qadir, the first deputy speaker of the lower house, told a general session that Daesh or the self-styled Islamic State leaders were living in Kabul under the patronage of the National Security Council (NSC). He had also accused the government of supporting the militant outfit.
Qadir had also rejected claims that Afghan forces had killed a large number of Daesh fighters in eastern Nangarhar province, saying the IS rebels had been killed by local people.
But his claims were rejected by the NSC and the Ministry of Interior while President Ghani appointed a delegation to investigate his assertions.
The president through a decree has directed the NSC, the government minister's office in parliamentary affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the ministries of interior and defense to cooperate with the team during its investigation.
A number of lawmakers during Monday’s Wolesi Jirga session criticised Qadir’s allegations and asked the government to thoroughly investigate his claims.
Shinkai Karokhel, who represents Kabul people in the Wolesi Jirga, said, “Anytime if the government collapses, it would be caused by the parliament. We know all countries in the world are united in their support for Afghanistan to fight Daesh. If the Afghan government loses the world’s trust, then the international aid would fade way from Afghanistan,”
About Zahir Qadir’s recent speech, she said: “The Wolesi Jirga deputy speaker should solve the issue during a session; otherwise Afghanistan’s enemies may use his speech against our country,”
However, Qadir had claimed having credible evidence to prove his claims.
Gulalai Noor Safi, another Wolesi Jirga member, said the lower house should appoint a delegation to assess Qadir’s claims and prevent regional intelligence agencies from misusing the issue as an opportunity.
Zahir Qadir, while talking to lawmakers, said: “Some people should ignore their personal interests for defending some circles, we are representatives of the people and we should not defend some specific individuals. My claims are well-founded and I can prove them with evidences.”
“Who would defend me. I have evidences but if I share them who would guarantee my protection. Our security forces are like our family members. I have mentioned the National Security Council (NSC) in my allegations. I have specified the person, if there is a system, I can share all the evidences,” Qadir said.
He added lawmakers should defend their people, not some specific individuals. Qadir assured that he would resign if failed to prove his claims.
Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said the issue of Qadir could not be solved within the Wolesi Jirga, but a delegation was needed to assess Qadir’s claims. He said echoing the issue was not in the interest of the Afghans.
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