MP’s brother accused in girl murder case

BAMYAN (PAN): Relatives of a teenage girl, who was found dead in her brother-in-law’s house last year, on Monday accused a provincial council member of shooting her during a court hearing in central Bamyan province.

The 16-year-old victim, identified as Shakila, was found shot dead in the Zargaran village on the outskirts of Bamyan City, the provincial capital.  

Police had previously said the girl from Kabul was found dead in the house of her brother-in-law — Qurban, a bodyguard with provincial council member Syed Wahidi Behishti.

Her family says Shakila was playing with a Kalashnikov that went off accidently, killing her at a time when there was no one else in the house.

At a primary court hearing on April 17, the attorney accused Qurban of killing the girl in cold blood — a claim dismissed by the accused, who insists the real killer should be arrested.  

On Monday, Mohammad Alam, the brother of the slain girl, told the court Behishti had killed his sister and called for his arrest.

He rejected the assertion that nobody was present at the time of the murder. Behishti, his wife and nephew were at home when she was killed, he added.

“But nobody can ask Behishti because he is a powerful man and his brother is a member of the Wolesi Jirga and we are weak. We seek justice and the government should not let the blood of my sister go in vain.”

Behishti, who was present at the court, remained silent and did not react to the allegations.

mm/ma/mud

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