JI demands impartial probe into Ustad Atif’s killing

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Jamiat-i-Islah (JI) on Wednesday asked the government to expose the killers of its leader Dr. Mohammad Atif and conduct an impartial investigation into his murder.

Jamiat-i-Islah (JI) leader Dr. Mohammad Atif was killed in an explosion in Kabul on Tuesday morning.

President Asharf Ghani and High Council for National Reconciliation chief Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, former president Hamid Karzai and some other high profile figures had strongly condemned the killing of Dr. Atif and blamed the murder on the country’s enemies.

The JI in a statement said the association had a strong presence in Afghanistan over the past two decades, supporting religious and national value

The statement said the martyrdom of Ustad Atif was a deliberate act aimed at the top leadership of an orderly and powerful national movement with deep roots in the nation.

The Jamiat-i-Islah (JI) has always called for intra-Afghan peace talks in addition to opposing foreign intervention in Afghanistan. Ustad Atif had been active at various peace forums.

The Jamiat-i-Islah (JI) said it leader was targeted at a time when the peace talks had entered a critical phase in order to sabotage the ongoing intra-Afghan peace talks.

The statement said the enemy wanted to target individuals and groups who had a religious identity and cultural agenda and who support and defend national and Islamic values.

It added it was the duty of the government to protect the lives, property and honor of people, therefore the Jamiat-i-Islah (JI) demanded that the government should immediately expose the perpetrators of the assassination of Ustad Mohammad Atif to the people .

Investigation into the assassination should be conducted in a way that was genuine, impartial and accurate rather than ceremonial.

The Jamiat-i-Islah (JI) called on all political parties and personalities to be vigilant and united against such incidents.

bk/ma