Allegation against me not proven: Kofi

KABUL (Pajhwok): Government’s negotiating team member Fawzia Kofi insists the accusation that she has ties to illegal gunmen has not been proven yet.

The primary court fined the plaintiffs in addition to their dismissal from job, the former lawmaker claimed.

On December 20, Pajhwok Afghan News reported the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission had disqualified 35 candidates in the 2018 Wolesi Jirga polls on charges of having links to illegal gunmen and groups.

But eight of the disqualified candidates were later appointed to key government posts, a move that prompted objections from political observers..

Kofi, a former Wolesi Jirga member from Badakhshan province, was among the rejected election runners. She is currently a member of the government’s peace-negotiating team.

Showing Pajhwok some documents, she said the allegation against her had not been proven, but the primary court still fined and dismissed the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs were Kambiz Qorbani, then administrative chief for the Darwaz Bala district of Badakhshan, and Abdul Rafi Meraji, ex head for Kuf Aab district.

In a petition that Kofi filed in August 2018 with the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC), says: “I would like to make it clear that there are no irresponsible gunmen in Kufab district.

“If they claim there are, they should either produce evidence of their existence under my supervision …”

Following Kofi’s complaint, IECC interrogated both district chiefs, and reported the outcome of investigations documents have been collected and the information provided by the relevant departments of the election commissions is inferred After the beginning of the registration process for the Wolesi Jirga election process, in which Ms. Kofi registered as a candidate for the Wolesi Jirga from the Badakhshan constituency on 2018, May, 26.

Kamiz Qurbani and Abdul Rafi Meraji, the district chiefs, in a separate application seeking Kofi’s disqualification, accused her of having links to illegal gunmen.

The source added the district governors not only misused their positions, but also provided IECC with incorrect information and claims they could not prove. This amounted to insulting Kofi.

The primary court verdict issued on February 12, 2020 says Qorbani and Meraji were fined 77,000 afghanis, dismissed from job and for providing false information.

In the damages suit, we also ruled that there was insufficient evidence to justify the acquittal it should be noted that the defendants were not satisfied with this decision.

“In my case, it turned out to be a false claim. When I was in parliament, most of allegations were unfortunately prompted by my position.

“Most of them were false claims and the primary court of Badakhshan could not prove the allegations. They were fired and fined 77,000afs.”

Due to interference from certain circles and security issues in Badakhshan, she transferred the case to Kabul, said Kofi, who is awaiting the appellant court’s verdict.

bk/mud

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