Progress in Amer Sattar’s murder case: Probe team

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The team tasked with leading the inquiry into the killing of Amer Abdul Sattar – a former mujahideen leader who was killed in an operation by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) earlier in January– is making rapid progress in their investigation into the raid.

The details of the probe will not disclosed until the investigations are completed, a member of the task team said.

The Presidential Palace (ARG) meanwhile said that proper action will be taken once the probe team wraps up its investigation.

Officials from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) have also demanded clarification into the operation that led to the killing of Mr. Sattar and four others, saying the outcome of the investigation should be shared with the public.

The ten-member probe team, composed of officials from the parliament, National Security Council, Ministry of Interior and other relevant sectors, was formed ten days back by the order of President Ashraf Ghani. The task team was asked to investigate the raid on Sattar’s house that was carried out by special units of the NDS.

“Progress has been made regarding this case–we have decided not to provide details about it to the media until the investigation is completed because things are changing during the probe,” said member of the task team, Iqbal Safai.

“The case needs to be investigated with impartiality and neutrality. The Afghan people and rights-defending bodies must be informed about the process,” said Zabiullah Farhang, head of media and publications at the AIHRC.

Residents also call for clarification:

“If you take the task team for Kunduz, including the task team for the murder of Sattar Ghorbandi, they are all just a theory, there is no achievement in this respect,” said Salahshor Nayab, a resident in Kabul.

“They formed the task team and they never bothered to inform the public about the outcome of it,” said Wais, a resident in Kabul.

“The task team will conduct its assessments, then the outcome needs to be submitted to the president, then the government will decide further steps,” said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani.

Sattar’s short biography:

Amer Sattar was the guest of Haji Shafi Ghorbandi on Sunday night in the Khair Khana area north of Kabul and the incident happened at 7:30 pm when NDS forces launched the operation.

Ghorbandi’s family said that “if they wanted to launch an operation against Amer Sattar, why did they do it in our house?”

Amer Sattar was from Ghorband valley of Parwan province and supported President Ghani during last year’s Presidential election.

The NDS confirmed the operation but still has not commented on its details. (TOLOnews)