Kabul police headquarters on Monday announced that it has ordered an investigation into the alleged shooting incident by a member of the Wolesi Jirga, Lalai Hamidzai, on Thursday night.

“Everyone is supposed to make claims, but it is very difficult to prove the claims, because not only myself, but all our forces witnessed the incident. Mr. MP (Lalai Hamidzai) thinks that the commander (Kabul police chief) was at his office, but I was in front of his house,” said Kabul police chief Hassan Shah Forogh.

Hamidzai also serves as chairman of parliament’s drug commission.

CCTV footage shows that Hamidzai and his bodyguards opened fire on a restaurant building in Kart-e-Se area of the capital city.

However, Hamidzai hit out at the allegations and said that a group of armed men had opened fire on his house.

But, footage shows that Hamidzai and his bodyguards arrived at the restaurant at midnight. The cars stopped and Hamidzai got out of his car and walked towards the restaurant gate.

In the footage, Hamidzai is seen to kick the gate with his leg. Later, Hamidzai fired off some shots with a pistol - which was pointed at the restaurant gate.

The incident happened on Thursday night and sparked major fear among local residents. Residents in the area thought that it was a group attack by Taliban insurgents.

But, no one from the area or parliament is prepared to talk about the incident including the owner of the restaurant.

“The case related to my house should be investigated, the shooting continued for one and a half hours and that is in Kabul; officials must assess outcomes of police investigations and parliament’s safety commission must follow up the issue,” said Hamidzai.

But, residents in the area have stressed the need for an investigation to be launched into the incident.

“They (MPs) have done nothing for the people, they only disturb the people,” said a resident of Kabul, Mujtaba.

“They (MPs) think only about their own, only about their clan and cast,” said another resident Khalid Naweed.

“The people must elect those who have knowledge and legal education,” said another resident Shamsrahman Ahmadi.

This is not the first time that a member of parliament has been accused of being involved in such incidents, but to date no MP has been held accountable for such infringements.