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Eshchi Calls for Justice Following Dostum’s Return

Ahmad Eshchi, the former governor of northern Jawzjan province, on Sunday vowed to proceed with legal action against First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum and his bodyguards.

Eshchi accused Dostum of kidnapping him and his guards of sexual assault.

He called on the Afghan government to ensure justice is served.

Eshchi has said he is concerned about the “discriminatory approach” to his case by judicial organizations.

Dostum returned home on Sunday after spending 14 months in Turkey.

But Eshchi has accused the Afghan government of not taking steps to implement justice regarding his case against Dostum, saying he wants his case to be investigated properly.

“Dostum pretended to be ill and fled the country to escape action by the legal and judicial institutions, because Dostum was afraid of them. He once tried to return, but his plane was not allowed to land at Balkh airprot and he was sent back to Turkey. But now he has returned following a deal, but I am not aware of the details of the deal,” said Eshchi.

But Dostum’s close aides have hit out over the allegations, calling them baseless and ridiculous and instead accused government of not giving Dostum’s aides the privileges due to them while the first vice president was in Turkey.

“By compensating these issues (the privileges) it is possible to create trust between government and the people,” Kanishka Turkistani, head of Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan’s youth council said.

“Trust between the people and the government can be restored if these issues are addressed,” said a member of Dostum’s Junbish-e Milli party.

In reaction to the controversy, some legal experts said Dostum’s time in Turkey had been a political issue rather than a legal issue.

“In the absence of the president, the vice president swiftly becomes the acting president, no matter whether the president agrees to it or not. But ... the Presidential Palace sent him into exile. This is not a legal issue, but a political one,” said legal expert Wahid Farzayee.

After landing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on Sunday, Dostum was warmly welcomed by high-ranking government officials and supporters.

Speaking to his supporters in Sedarat Palace, after his arrival, Dostum called on his supporters to remain calm and end their protests in Faryab province, one of his major strongholds in the north.

Dostum said he will meet with President Ashraf Ghani on Monday to discuss the issue of Nizamuddin Qaisari, one of his close aides who has been in custody for three weeks.

Eshchi Calls for Justice Following Dostum’s Return

The former Jawzjan governor said he will not back down over the sexual assault case.

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Ahmad Eshchi, the former governor of northern Jawzjan province, on Sunday vowed to proceed with legal action against First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum and his bodyguards.

Eshchi accused Dostum of kidnapping him and his guards of sexual assault.

He called on the Afghan government to ensure justice is served.

Eshchi has said he is concerned about the “discriminatory approach” to his case by judicial organizations.

Dostum returned home on Sunday after spending 14 months in Turkey.

But Eshchi has accused the Afghan government of not taking steps to implement justice regarding his case against Dostum, saying he wants his case to be investigated properly.

“Dostum pretended to be ill and fled the country to escape action by the legal and judicial institutions, because Dostum was afraid of them. He once tried to return, but his plane was not allowed to land at Balkh airprot and he was sent back to Turkey. But now he has returned following a deal, but I am not aware of the details of the deal,” said Eshchi.

But Dostum’s close aides have hit out over the allegations, calling them baseless and ridiculous and instead accused government of not giving Dostum’s aides the privileges due to them while the first vice president was in Turkey.

“By compensating these issues (the privileges) it is possible to create trust between government and the people,” Kanishka Turkistani, head of Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan’s youth council said.

“Trust between the people and the government can be restored if these issues are addressed,” said a member of Dostum’s Junbish-e Milli party.

In reaction to the controversy, some legal experts said Dostum’s time in Turkey had been a political issue rather than a legal issue.

“In the absence of the president, the vice president swiftly becomes the acting president, no matter whether the president agrees to it or not. But ... the Presidential Palace sent him into exile. This is not a legal issue, but a political one,” said legal expert Wahid Farzayee.

After landing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on Sunday, Dostum was warmly welcomed by high-ranking government officials and supporters.

Speaking to his supporters in Sedarat Palace, after his arrival, Dostum called on his supporters to remain calm and end their protests in Faryab province, one of his major strongholds in the north.

Dostum said he will meet with President Ashraf Ghani on Monday to discuss the issue of Nizamuddin Qaisari, one of his close aides who has been in custody for three weeks.

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