Barmak renews his resolve to reforming police

KABUL (Pajhwok): Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak has once again resolved to deeply reform his ministry and assured of making visible positive changes soon.

Addressing reporters here, Barmak said problems still existed in police ranks but the force had achievements as well.

The minister said reforms to introduce qualified people had been launched and 40 individuals were hired at the Passport Department through an open competition.

Earlier President Ashraf Ghani had criticized the presence of massive corruption in the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and termed the institution as the heart of corruption.

In a latest incident of corruption, a high ranking MoI official was arrested on Tuesday over allegedly embezzling 100 million afghanis.

Barmak also talked about police achievements and said Kabul police had captured nearly 4,000 suspects in connection with different crimes. Among the detainees, 18 were kidnappers. Police also recovered many abducted people.

“Businessman Haji Hashmatullah was kidnapped two months and a half ago. He was rescued but the kidnappers had chopped off fingers of his one hand and one foot,” he said, adding the achievements of the 101 Asmaye Zone police should be hailed.

He said police had removed black films from vehicles and most of these vehicles were used for kidnapping purposes.

Hashmatullah said he was kidnapped two and a half months earlier in the limits of PD#9 and the kidnappers were disguised as intelligence personnel.

The kidnapped businessman said his family had been asked to pay $5 million in ransom money for his release. The kidnappers, however, reduced the amount to $3 million.

The minister said crimes had declined by 40 percent as a result of the campaign of removing tinted glasses from vehicles.

On the occasion, Barmak awarded medals and appreciation letters to Brig. Gen. Mohammad Salem Almas, 101 Asmaye Zone Police chief and three other police officers.

nh/ma

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