Senate won’t defend member linked to kidnapping

KABUL, or upper house of Parliament, on Tuesday said it would not support Fauzia Sadat, a female lawmaker, if she was found aiding her brother, who has been accused of heading a gang of kidnappers.

However, the woman lawmaker spurned the allegation as unfounded, saying she was ready to go on trial. Some government officials have accused Sadat of helping her brother in a series of kidnappings.

Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar told the house: “If Fauzia Sadat has ties to the gang led by her brother, we will not extend her any kind of help.” Muslimyar added no one was above the law and the house would not allow anyone accused of breaking laws.

However, Sadat said she had never helped anyone in kidnapping people.  Without commenting on her brother, Samad Sadat, the public representative from southeastern Paktia province said she had talked to her brother over the telephone, which was no crime.

“If someone proves that I have hand in kidnappings, I am ready to resign and appear before the court of law,” the legislator said, claiming the allegation had been leveled by the 101st Asmayee Police Zone crime investigation branch chief, Gen. Abdul Zahir. She would not say why Zahir did so.

Sadat asked fellow lawmakers to help her remove the general if he failed to prove his accusation. Pajhwok tried to reach Gen. Zahir for comments, but in vain.

Deputy Senate Chairman Mohammad Alam Ezedyar said he took up the issue with the crimes and investigation section head at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) a day earlier. Quoting the AGO official, Ezedyar said Fauzia’s conversation with her brother had been tapped.

ma/mud

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