KABUL - A list of 200 Hizb-e-Islami inmates has been sent to the president and they will be released soon, the commission overseeing the implementation of peace accord between the Afghan government and Hizb-e-Islami group said on Tuesday.
But, Hizb-e-Islami has blasted the government for dealing with the implementation of the deal with reluctance. They said the government has yet to meet the preconditions of Hizb-e-Islami before group’s leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar arrives in Kabul.
The release of the 200 Hizb-e-Islami inmates; providing a safe residence for Hekmatyar and the allotment of 1000 residential plots for Hizb-e-Islami refugees are among the preconditions set by Hizb-e-Islami.
Hizb-e-Islami officials say government’s reluctance of implementation of the deal has been hindering the return of group’s leader to Kabul
“Our complaint is that the government, given its available resources, should take swift action regarding these issues,” said Qariburrahman Saeed, head of the media section of Hizb-e-Islami.
In response to the allegations, officials from the peace accord oversight commission have rejected Hizb-e-Islami’s claims over government’s reluctance of implementing the deal, saying soon at least 60 of the Hizb-e-Islami inmates will be released from the jails.
The commission says the government has undertaken all necessary measures for the return of Hekmatyar, including security measures to ensure the safety of Hekmatyar once he enters Kabul.
“There are some high-profile prisoners. Hizb-e-Islami has given their list to the opposing side so that they are also released alongside other prisoners,” said Saeed.
Hizb-e-Islami media officials have said that it has referred the list of Hizb-e-Islami inmates to the government, asking the government to release them all.
“The inmates have been categorized. Those who are political prisoners and are not linked with criminal cases or with the Taliban and other terrorist groups, would be separated,” said Ahmad Farzan, spokesman to peace accord oversight commission.
Sources say Hizb-e-Islami insists that the government must ensure the release of at least 200 Hizb-e-Islami prisoners including some key figures such as Lotfullah Sadiq, Qazi Rahmandad and Najib, son of Bashir Baghlani.
The Allotment of 1000 residential plots for Hizb-e-Islami detainees and the delivery of safe locations for residence of Hekmatyar in one of the eastern province of Laghman or Nangarhar are the main Hizb-e-islami conditions. (Tolonews)