400 police out of MoI control in Kabul alone: Barmak

KABUL (Pajhwok): Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak on Sunday said the misuse of police forces and their equipment was ‘worrisome’, claiming about 400 police in Kabul alone were operating out of the ministry’s control in service of government officials.

Barmak, who was summoned to the Meshrano Jirga, answered lawmakers’ questions about alleged exploitation of police and their facilities.

“Recently Kabul police arrested a gang that was involved in kidnappings, robberies and other crimes. The gang used a pick-up vehicle, cards and guns belonging to police.”

According to him, two police officials were also part of the gang that committed crimes in Kart-i-Naw neighborhood of Kabul city.

He didn’t go into details. “Currently, some 400 Kabul police personnel are in service of officials and we don’t know what they are doing.”

“If these policemen come under the Kabul Police Headquarters control, it would enable the ministry to observe their performance and would also help improve Kabul security.”

He said about 700 police pick-ups under the ministry’s control had been given to government officials under various pretexts over the years.

According to him, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) officials had in a recent meeting told him if police vehicles, equipment and facilities were not retrieved from irresponsible armed men, the international community would cease providing aid to Afghan National Police (ANP).

Barmak further said the list of police vehicles had been sent to the government’s leadership and the MoI awaited a nod from the government leadership to take action.

“It is set a statement will soon be issued by the MoI whereby no any police member would be further able to relocate or promote himself to a higher rank through using relations and nepotism.”

“If privileges and ration didn’t reach police and in case we fail to address their issues, then they possess the right to register complaints and use contacts; otherwise there is no need to bother upper authorities.”

Barmak, while stressing the importance of reforms in MoI, said soon an exam would be taken from police personnel for adding them to the reformation.

sns/ma