A Logar resident claims that Asif Seddiqi, the second deputy speaker of Meshrano Jirga, the Upper House of Parliament, has been having an affair with a married woman and that he has allegedly made death threats to her family. 

The woman’s husband’s family has sent what they claim is proof of the affair to the media – which includes an audio and video tape of alleged interactions between Seddiqi and the woman.

However, the woman’s defense attorney states that her client, Shakeela, faced abuse in the home and left her husband. She handed herself over to judicial organizations and has been living in a shelter. 

Pajhwok News Agency said in a report that Seddiqi had made promises to the woman during their affair. 

However, Fraidoon, the woman’s husband has called for justice. 

“Ashraf Ghani! For Allah’s sake, only honor is left, save our honor from these oppressors who make laws, pass them and implement it themselves,” said Fraidoon.

“We will continue our demonstrations and protests until Asif Seddiqi is punished,” said Sultan Aziz, Fraidoon’s father.

Seddiqi has not however commented but in a leaked audio tape he is believed to be saying: “If I know that you motivate someone or tell someone that Seddiqi is involved in this, I will not leave anyone of you alive.”

The woman’s defense attorney said her client handed herself over to authorities about three months ago in order to escape the domestic violence situation and to leave her husband. The attorney said her client is now living in a women’s shelter in Kabul.

“She did not have an affair with anyone. The first day when she came here (women’s shelter), she could not even talk as she was very scared so how could she marry another person,” said Elaha Naseri, Shakeela’s attorney.

The Attorney General’s Office says the woman lodged a complaint against her husband and later the husband filed a complaint against her. The office is now investigating both cases.