Lawmakers in Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Wednesday said the circumstances surrounding Kandahar police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq’s assassination were questionable and called on the Afghan government to provide full details of the tragedy, ToloNews reported.
MPs also paid tribute to the deceased police chief, for his hard work, and said that Raziq’s legacy must be a symbol of patriotism and determination for politicians and security officials.
“Such cases shouldn’t be closed, we should not end the controversies only by paying verbal sympathy,” said MP Sayed Ali Kazimi.
“I want to say to the honourable chief of the national directorate of security that if a Taliban fighter was appointed to work for the governor of Kandahar one and a half months ago, why didn’t you pick it up,” said MP Allah Gul Mujahed
Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq Achakzai, commonly known as Gen. Raziq, was gunned down in an attack last week at the Kandahar governor’s compound. At the time of the shooting other high-ranking officials were present including the provincial governor Zalmai Wesa and Resolute Support commander Gen. Austin Scott Miller.
“Why did Gen. Raziq became a champion in the heart of all people of Afghanistan, but why have some people who claim to be genius changed and become conspirators against the people of Afghanistan,” said MP Arif Rahmani.
This comes a day after President Ashraf Ghani said the assassination of Raziq was planned in Pakistan and asked Islamabad to hand over those responsible in order for Afghanistan to ensure that justice prevails.
“I want to say that this conspiracy was plotted in Pakistan. So Pakistan should give us the criminals so that we can bring them to justice,” said Ghani.
Also on Monday, chief of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency—the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Massoom Stanekzai – confirmed that the Kandahar provincial governor’s bodyguard, who allegedly killed Raziq – made a two and a half minute phone call about five minutes before the attack to someone across the border.
He stated although references had been provided, the bodyguard turned out to have been using a fake name and false ID.
But Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday that it rejects the claims regarding the Kandahar attack.
“Pakistan rejects baseless and unfounded allegations regarding the latest Kandahar attacks. No hard evidence or intelligence related information has been shared to date with Pakistan to substantiate such claims,” the ministry said.
Raziq took over as police chief in 2011 after his predecessor, Khan Mahammad Mojayed, was killed in a suicide bombing in April of that year.
At only 39, Raziq had made his mark across the country and was seen as a giant presence in the south. He was a fierce patriot and was committed to stamping out terrorism.
General Raziq’s murder was also widely condemned by Baloch leaders.