Under probe Nangarhar deputy police chief elevated

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The deputy police chief for eastern Nangarhar province has been appointed as acting police chief of the province despites his introduction to the attorneys over negligence in duty.

Experts and analysts term the step as illegal and say a person who is introduced to the attorney office over incompetency should have been suspended instead of appointing to a higher position.

Nangarhar deputy police chief, Abdul Jamil Tatamdara, was introduced to the attorney office over negligence in duty in the murder case of a moneychanger in Jalalabad, the provincial capital, on January 10.

However, two days back, the Nangarhar police headquarters official Facebook page said Abdul Jamil Tatamdara, “acting police chief’ of the province” headed a security meeting.

The statement from the police headquarter drew serious condemnation on the social media.

Mohammad Anwar Sultani, a military expert, said officials after being introduced to attorney office must be suspended.

“The deputy police chief is introduced to the attorney office over incompetency, which means he is not capable of performing his job and must be relieved of duty,” he said.

Nangarhar Civil Society Coordination Council head, Abdul Latif Wahidi, told Pajhwok Afghan News that people should be provided information why a person after being introduced to the attorney office had been appointed as acting police chief.

However, provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal said they had received no information regarding the deputy police chief’s introduction to the attorney office.

He said the issue had been only mentioned by the governor’s house with the media. “In absence of the police chief, the deputy police chief has to serve on the position until he is suspended,” he said.

The governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, said the deputy police chief had been introduced to the attorney but his duty had not been suspended.

“The case of the deputy police chief is with the military attorney and the case will be decided after an ongoing investigation is completed”, he said.

Brig. Gen. Mohammad Asghar, head of Nangarhar military attorney, also said the deputy police chief had been introduced to them but his duty was yet to be suspended. He said their investigation about Abdul Jamil Tatamdara was underway.

When a person is introduced to the attorney, he/she could not continue his/her duty, but military experts say some exceptions exist in the military area.

mds/ma