The arrest of Alipoor, a local commander, was discussed in parliament on Monday – which led to an argument between a number of MPs.
Some MPs said Alipoor is a hero because he fought Taliban and that by arresting him, government was showing signs ofsupporting the Taliban and insurgent groups.
"Those who have complaints against Alipoor, they are a number of terrorists and criminals who have burned Qurans and people," MP Arif Rahmani said.
Some other MPs however welcomed government’s move to arrest Alipoor saying that security forces should arrest illegal armed men from all parts of the country.
“Those who protested yesterday, I see them as war criminals,” MP Mujib Rahman Samkanai said.
“Beating police and burning vehicles are not what the people deserve,” MP Ghulam Farooq said.
Parliament speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi urged government to take action to quickly end the problems that have come about following the arrest.
By this he was referring to two days of demonstrations in Kabul city by Alipoor supporters.
Following Alipoor’s arrest, his supporters launched demonstrations in Kabul, Bamiyan and Mazar-e-Sharif cities and in some cases the protests turned violent.
Who Is Alipoor And Why Did The NDS Arrest Him?
Abdul Ghani Alipoor, whohas become a veritable hero to his supporters but a problem for security departments, is from Behsood district of Maidan Wardak province.
Three years ago, when tension between nomads and local residents in Behsood and Daimirdad districts become serious, he created a public uprising force of about 150 men under the name of ‘Resistance Front’.
So far, he has repeatedly supported the public uprising forces against Taliban in Ghor, Daikundi, Ghazni and Maidan Wardak provinces.
He was arrested by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) on Sunday in the west of Kabul.
His arrest was followed by protests by his supporters in Kabul, Bamiyan and Mazar-e-Sharif cities whohave called on government to immediately free him.
The protests started on Sunday and continuedthrough Monday. The protest in Kabulturned violent and so far, a number of protesters and security forces have been injured.
“Alipoor has played good roles in maintaining security in different parts of the country,” a protester said.
“Alipoor did not create any problems for the government, he just wanted to ensure people's rights,” another protester said.
NDS says that Alipoor is the commander of an illegal-armed group and is accused of harassing the people, attacking security forces and demanding bribes from traders.
NDS said Alipoor isbeing held in detention and the legal and judicial centers will investigate the allegations against him.
A number of politicians however support Alipoor andhis arrest, and that of other commanders like him,is a calculated political move.
“Afghanistan people in fact are afraid of government, from people inside the government. Government itself has become a problem in the country and that is why the people refer to those men who can really defend them,” Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Massoud Foundation said.
“Government begs the Taliban, but jails those who fights the Taliban,” Bashir Ahmad Tayyanj, spokesman for the Islamic National Movement of Afghanistan said.