KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga on Monday asked the government to prosecute all the individuals involved in killing innocent people over the past few decades.

Also on Monday, countrywide condolence ceremonies were held in remembrance of thousands of people massacred during the Soviet-backed communist regime in the late 1970s.

On Sept. 18, the Dutch government issued a list of nearly 5,000 Afghans who were arrested, tortured and killed by the Afghan regime of that time. The list is based on investigations by the International Crimes Unit of the Netherlands National Police.

Asadullah Sadati, a public representative from central Daikundi province, claimed communists, mujahideen and the incumbent government were all involved in mowing down civilians.

“In Afghanistan, there will be hardly a family that hasn’t lost a member to massacres by these governments,” believed the lawmaker, who asked the rulers to prosecute all killers.

A legislator from Badakhshan, Zalmai Mujaddedi, also called for bringing the mass killers to justice to prevent similar atrocities in the future. Remnants from the communist era, still holding high government offices, should be sacked and put on trial, he demanded.

Naheed Farhad, a lower house member from western Herat province, sought implementation of transitional justice to punish the perpetrators. “We must grant people the right to justice and raise our voice for the trial of mass killers.”

Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi acknowledged the large-scale massacre of Afghans during the Soviet occupation of the country. “The perpetrators must be punished,” be stressed, urging the government to trace the communist-era criminals as soon as possible. (Pajhwok)