Afghan government releases 75 Hezb-e-Islami prisoners

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The government on Thursday released 75 more prisoners belonging to the Hezb-e-Islami (HI) group led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar -- a move which was in line with a landmark peace deal signed with the former Mujaheddin leader.

Ministry of Interior's Head of Prisons Gen. Shah Mir Amirpur told a ceremony marking the release in capital Kabul that 38 of the prisoners had been set free from Bagram Prison while the rest came out from the Pul-i-Charki Prison.

Amirpur dispelled rumors about Taliban or pro-Daesh militants being among those released, and said all 75 men were HI members who were released on the directives of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

The released prisoners had been accused of political and security crimes. So far, this is the third batch of HI prisoners released on Thursday.

Hekmatyar’s spokesman Nadir Afghan told Anadolu Agency 145 HI men had been released so far. He said up to 3,000 of his party members must be released in line with the September 2016 peace accord.

In June 2017, following his landmark return after some 20 years of self-imposed exile, the former Mujahedeen leader reaffirmed his support for the government in Kabul led by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, with whom he inked the peace deal in September 2016.

The 69-year-old now resides next to the headquarters of his political party in the heart of Kabul, and is actively campaigning for the forthcoming parliamentary elections due in June next year.