Newly-formed ‘Peace and Justice Movement’ draws mixed views

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some politicians criticize the formation of a new movement called “Peace and Justice” abroad, saying these faces are tested and their current slogans contradict their past activities, but others say every Afghan has the right to establish a political party.

About the movement, the acting Afghan government says these figures have no place in the heart of people and they have been tested by the people during the past two decades.

The Peace and Justice Movement announced its existence at a meeting held under the leadership of Dr. Jalil Shams last night.

About 223 political and civil society figures including former foreign minister Hanif Atmar and former spymaster Masoum Stanikzai are part of the group.

A communiqué issued after the meeting insisted on formation of an all inclusive government in Afghanistan and said they would try to resolve Afghanistan’s problems through talks and understanding.

Former officials and others expressed mixed views about the formation of the new movement.

Mohammad Akram Khpalwak, advisor to former president, on his Facebook page wrote that most figures in the list were respectable people, but there were also some people in the list whose current slogans contradicted their past politics and stance.

“Weren’t they the ones who spent most part of the budget of the National Security Council and the National Security Department to destroy national unity?” “They hired thousands of people in the social media to destroy Afghans and undermine Afghan and Islamic values. Were they not the same who weakened the security forces? Are they not responsible for the martyrdom of thousands of Afghan security forces and civilians? Were they not the ones who prevented any political agreement with the Taliban? They were the same that failed the Doha negotiations and ultimately brought down the republic. Today, Afghans are wandering around the world without identity.”

Khpalwak said he knew political and civil activities were not allowed in Afghanistan and girls were not allowed to get education and there were restrictions on women’s employment and the people were struggling with economic problems and the caretaker government did not represent all parties, but the Afghans could get out of this.

“We can discuss our basic rights, children’s education and a better future with the Taliban government. But those who made the nation suffer this fate, cannot represent the nation or the republic. Don’t earn bad name to Afghans who are in real sense trying and fighting for the country inside and outside. Which dear homeland are they talking about? were they guests here? Their families had a peaceful life abroad in the past years.”

“We all owe it to the nation. As an Afghan, I am ready to offer accountability to the nation. These so-called notables who gathered today, if they doubt my words, I am ready for any discussion and debate and the nation has the right to know the facts.”

Khpalwak said life and death was in Afghanistan and they will fight peacefully for their basic rights.

Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, former finance minister and ambassador to Pakistan during the previous government, said in a video published on his Twitter page said his opinion about the formation of the movement for justice and peace was negative.

“My opinion is negative especially for the faces who had been tested here and who were the cause of the collapse of the republic regime. What you did in the past one year. Why you did not answer to the nation and why you fled the country. Dozens of people who sacrificed their lives on your order, their families are in a miserable situation and you are yet to answer them.”

“Once again you are working on a foreign project..to keep you busy and you receive funds…these people still cannot face the nation..they mysteriously sit here and there, in one hotel and another, who pays the hotel expenses?”

Writer Mohammad Safi about the formation of the movement said such movements produced no results during the past four decades.

Abdul Rahman Salim wrote everyone knew the causes of the previous government’s collapse and everyone knew who imposed the mullahs as rulers on us. “You must talk about future as what you can do.”

Samiullah Ghani wrote: “When Atmar says the disunity and greed of the democratic officials led to the collapse of the government and he considers himself among those people, then why they form the justice and peace movement.”

“Why don’t they try to establish a national and international court to try themselves and other officials of the republic regime? Can officials and personalities who caused the democratic government to collapse prove useful for peace and national solidarity?

However, former governor of Paktia province Halim Fidai wrote on his Twitter page: “Atmar’s stance regarding the movement for peace and justice is realistic and national. The three factors behind the fall of the republic and the way to solve them are reasonable/practical.

“Before resolving the Doha agreement or problems with the Taliban, you should work on consensus among all major politicians who are unhappy with the current crisis”.

Mohammad Omar Daudzai, former president’s special adviser on Pakistan, says: “Every Afghan has the right to be politically active and every Afghan has the right to form a political group for the purpose of political activity.”

Daudzai said he was consulted several times by Hanif Atmar, but he was not a member of the movement due to various reasons.

Bilal Karimi, Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, told Pajhwok about the movement that the tested figures no longer had a place among the people and they had been tested in the past two decades.

He said: “These people neglected the country’s national interests and the rights of the people in the past 20 years.”

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