The National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief Masoom Stanekzai and Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak were summoned by senators to answer questions in the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) on Tuesday over the increase of insecurity.
The two security chiefs were also questioned about the arrest and release of Alipoor, a local commander, who was arrested by the NDS on Sunday and freed on bail on Monday evening.
“If Alipoor does not go back to jail, the demand of the senate is that Gen. Moin Khan, Gen. Quraishi, Qaisari and Sarjang Amiri should be freed immediately,” senate speaker Fazl Hadi Muslimyar said.
“Did you once go to Kot-e-Sangi? All the public facilities have been burned,” a senator asked.
Stanekzai said the allegations lodged against Alipoor will be investigated and if there is truth in the claims, the local commander will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. He said if this does not happen he will step down as NDS chief.
“If the law is not implemented, doing this job in lack of law enforcement, means dishonoring ourselves. I do not want to do this job in existence of dual-faced treatment and if justice is not secured,” said Stanekzai.
Stanikzai said Alipoor has violated the law and national sovereignty and that the will be thoroughly investigated.
Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak meanwhile said allegations against Alipoor include extortion and other illegal activities.
“The accusations are three to four extortion complaints involving the road that goes from Maidan Wardak to Jalriz and Bamiyan; stopping vehicles and extorting money from contractor companies,” said Barmak.
Alipoor meanwhile said he is willing to answer questions regarding the allegations against him.
In a commitment letter after his release from custody on Monday night, Alipoor said: “It’s clear that humans are not free of mistakes and if I then made a mistake then I want government officials to forgive me.”
On Monday night, the Second Vice President’s office confirmed that Alipoor was released by the NDS but that judicial organizations will follow up on allegations lodged against him.
Alipoor also committed in his letter that he would be ready to answer to the allegations against him and added that he “will register all weapons” with government or hand them in.
Alipoor also said he is prepared to remain in Kabul to present himself to the responsible authorities to answer to the allegations against him and that he “will not participate in gatherings until the allegations have been resolved.”
Following Alipoor’s arrest, his supporters launched demonstrations in Kabul, Bamiyan and Mazar-e-Sharif cities and in some cases the protests turned violent.
Deputy minister of interior for security Akhtar Ibrahimi on Monday called on protesters to let the Afghan legal and judicial institutions determine the fate of local commander Alipoor.
Addressing a press conference in Kabul on Monday, he said judicial institutions need to determine whether Alipoor is innocent or guilty after allegations were lodged against him that include harassment of people and other suspected illegal activities.