Jamshid Rasuli, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), on Thursday said the AGO has appointed a team to investigate allegations lodged by Ahmad Eshchi, former governor of Jawzjan, against General Abdul Rashid Dostum, the first vice president.

Rasuli said the team has started its work and that the result of the investigations will be released soon.

“AGO has appointed a team to investigate the issue based on the information and evidence. After a full investigation, we will take a final decision,” he said.

Sources meanwhile have told TOLOnews that Eshchi has undergone medical tests at the NATO hospital in Bagram and also at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul city.

Moin Khan Samkanai, head of Rights and Justice Party, said at a press conference that government must probe Eshchi’s allegations seriously and transparently.

“The national unity government (NUG) should probe the issue seriously. We want all people to be respected and their security should be maintained. Government is responsible to investigate the case,” he said.

Some lawyers also stressed the need for government to get judicial bodies to investigate the matter. 

“The people who can act as acting president while the president is not present, they are being treated the same as the president. Parliament will share the issue of prosecution and will put it to the vote and then a Loya Jirga will be formed. The Loya Jirga and judiciary will form a special court and then parliament members and the Attorney General’s Office will submit the case to a special court,” said Ainuddin Bahaduri, deputy head of Afghanistan’s Lawyers Union (ALU).

Eshchi has claimed that he was arrested, jailed and sexually assaulted by Dostum’s men, on Dostum’s orders, in Jawzjan province.