Latest News
First Batch of Hezb-i-Islami Prisoners to be ‘Released’ This Week
It includes about 70 prisoners most of them have been arrested on the battlefield and found guilty, following three-round of court rulings.
HIA spokesman, Karim Amin said: “Without any unexpected incident, 65 to 70 prisoners in first round will be freed on Friday that includes those who went through three round of court rulings.”
The release of prisoners come as part of the agreement between HIA and the government in September last year that also paving the way for the group’s leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to return to Kabul after years in hiding.
Sources close to HIA said Hekmatyar will be appeared on Sunday, April 30.
However, Amin said: ” Only a few days due for the leader [Hekmatyar] to come and based on our estimation there are 2,000 people [HIA fighters] on average in each five provinces that most of them have been arrested on the battlefield.”
HIA has thousands of armed people with military equipment that might come along Hekmatyar to Kabul next week and it seriously concerns Kabul residents.
Who would lead HIA when Hekmatyar comes to Kabul?
The Hezb-e-Islami members loyal to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar say the party’s all rights and privileges would be given to Hekmatyar, though HIA has been registered under the name of Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, one of the senior member of the party.
The party has several factions; but, a figure close to Hekmatyar says that HIA has only one leadership.
“Everybody knows that Hezb-i-Islami has one leader and those who count themselves as leader would come under the leadership of Hekmatyar once he returns.”
Aman Riyazat, a spokesman for Justice Ministry; however, said: “Everyone has the right to register the party by his name. Details could be found on the Hezb-e-Islami website.”