Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Najafi Rejects Rigging Allegations

Najafi Rejects  Rigging Allegations

KABUL - The transport and aviation minister on Thursday rejected as groundless allegations regarding his involvement in rigging during the 2009 presidential election and the murder of Herat transport director. Daud Ali Najafi told a press conference that some media outlets, quoting unnamed sources in the Complaints Commission at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, had levelled the accusations against him.
He said the acting head of the High Office of Oversight and Anti-corruption for northern Balkh province, Asadullah Momand, and former transport department official Abdullah Achakzai had a registered a complaint against him with the commission.

In the complaint letter, Najafi said he had been accused of appointing a number of people at the ministry after accepting bribes. Najafi, who was chief of the Independent Election Commission during the presidential poll, said he had been accused of irregularities during the ballot in favour of President Hamid Karzai.

He added some news organisations also reported the complaint letter had been sent to the High Office of Oversight and Anti-corruption. Najafi scorned the accusation that he was involved in rigging and said he had implemented the election commission's verdict.

He also denied hand in the murder of Mirwais Paidan, the Herat transport director. He said two intelligence officials and a driver at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder.

Paiman was stabbed to death in Kabul last year. Najafi said Asadullah Momand and Abdullah Achakzai had told him they had not filed any complaint against him. The complaint had been registered by an unknown person, he said.

Both Momand and Achakzai told Pajhwok Afghan News they had not registered any complaint against Najafi.