The Presidential Palace on Saturday said President Ashraf Ghani was saddened by the issue of the discriminatory document that was leaked by the Administrative Office of the President (AOP) and that he has ordered the Attorney General’s  Office (AGO) to investigate the issue.

One week after the leak of the document in a Telegram chat group, the presidential palace on Friday introduced Sawabdin Makhkash, a former AOP official, to the Attorney General’s Office.

“President has asked the Attorney General’s  Office to investigate the issue and find the people behind the move,” Ghani’s Deputy Spokesman Dawa Khan Menapal said.

The Administrative Office of the President meanwhile acknowledged the document had been sent from Makhkash’s Telegram account and said such a move was unacceptable. 

“Unfortunately that has happened and (unfortunately) such a man with such outlines and beliefs was recruited in the office. But the office’s stance regarding such a move is important and the office’s stance is known and action has been taken against the move,” Shoaib Timori, deputy director of government affairs at AOP said. 

Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Office said they have started their investigations into the issue and will take a decision based on their findings. 

“We will take a decision in accordance with the law based on the findings of our colleagues’ investigations,” AGO spokesman Jamshid Rasuli said.

One of Ghani’s slogans during his campaign was “no Afghan is better than another Afghan”. 

“If such problems exist in different institutions, especially in the Administrative Office of the President, it will destroy the nation. Afghan people want government to respond clearly in this regard,” MP Sayed Ali Kazimi said.

“All our systems are ethnic based. If the day comes when we really implement the constitution and prosecute all those who work for a specific ethnic group, I believe that Ghani, Abdullah, Dostum, Mohaqiq, Khalil… all will go to Pul-e-Charkhi jail,” MP Ramazan Bashardost said.

Makhkash said this has all been a conspiracy against him.