Stop killing civilians, senators ask warring sides

KABUL (Pajhwok): Mesharano Jirga members on Tuesday asked all parties to the Afghanistan conflict to stop slaughtering innocent people for their interests.

Referring to the killing of 18 family members in Khashrud district of Nimroz province, lawmaker Nader Baloch from the province told today’s session of the upper house that the government, Taliban and the US were involved in the crime.

He asked for how long the people of Afghanistan would be slain for the interests of the US, Afghan government and the Taliban.

“What way the peace comes, the past achievements should be protected, it is not important for us if Ghani comes or Haibatullah, for us the Constitution is important,” he said, referring to the peace process.

AmanullahAzeemi, a lawmaker from Uruzgan province, said security situation was deteriorating in the country with each passing day and civilians offered sacrifices daily.

Mohammad Akbar Stanikzai, second deputy chairman of the Mesharno Jirga, asked the Taliban to stop killing civilians for getting leverage at the table of talks. “You cannot reach power by doing this.”

Lawmakers expressed their anger after an airstrike in Nimroz province on Tuesday killed 18 people of the same family. Soon after the strike, the Ministry of Defence said they had launched an investigation into the incident.

Senate Chairman FazalHadiMuslimyar condemned the killing of civilian in the airstrike and said harm to civilians from every side should be stopped.

He urged the president that being commander-in-chief of the armed forces, pay special attention to the killing of civilians and investigate the incident that happened in Nimroz.

Nh/ma