KABUL - Afghanistan's Attorney General's Office on Tuesday reported that at least 21 of former president Hamid Karzai's cabinet members are suspected of having been involved in corruption and that the new anti-corruption justice center is set to investigate the issue.
In line with this, anti-corruption monitoring groups have said they are hopeful that the anti-corruption center pursues its job with freedom, and in an impartial and fair manner.
"There are cases related to more than 21 ministers lying at the Attorney General's Office and they need to be investigated, at the same time, the ministries that in recent months were investigated by the presidential delegation and the delegation assigned by the attorney general (need to be reinvestigated). Also the corruption cases recorded in the capital and in the provinces, we will work on them," said AGO spokesman Basir Azizi.
In addition, sources on condition of anonymity have said that a number of present and ex-government officials, including ministers, governors, chiefs and mayors are suspected of being involved in corruption.
They said that the anti-corruption justice center has been asked to launch an investigation into all these elements.
"If the center is exploited for political purposes, then it would be a failed attempt," said Nasim Akbar, head of the Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Evaluation Commission.
"People expect that those who are involved in misusing public assets and in embezzling millions are brought to justice," said Abdul Qahar Farukh Siar, head of the High Office of Oversight and Anti Corruption.
Fighting corruption has been a major challenge for the National Unity Government (NUG) as it has had to convince Afghanistan's international partners for continued aid.
The establishment of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Justice Center elicited positive reactions from the Afghan people. However Afghans fear that lawbreakers and government officials could interfere in the center's job.(Tolonews)