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KABUL: Former President Hamid Karzai said the assassination of prominent peace activist, journalist and political commentator Wahid Muzhda is an unfortunate and gravely ominous development.
“The killing of Shaheed Muzhda is an attack on civil liberties and the freedom of speech, some of the most important achievements of the past 18 years. Defending those advocating for the realization of peace is our national duty. I am confident that Afghans will respond to this violence with unity and robust civil action,” former President added.
Wahid Muzhda, was assassinated Wednesday in west of Kabul city when two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle attacked him in the area close to the Russian embassy.
Interior ministry spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi, said the incident occurred around 5:00 pm while Muzhda was going to the mosque. The reason for his death is not clear, and police are investigating the incident, Rahimi added.
Soon after the attack, the Taliban group reacted to Muzhda’s assassination, blaming the ‘intelligence circles of the enemy’ for his killing.
The Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement said the group condemns the assassination of Mr. Muzhda in strongest terms.
Target killing in the past one month have been increased in Kabul. The targeted killing, especially the killing of Muzhda, must be thoroughly and swiftly investigated and the results made known to the public, martyred Muzhda’s support demanded.
Muzhda served as foreign minister during the Taliban regime. This comes as four ex-members of the Taliban regime have been targeted by unidentified gunmen in the last month.
Hassan Haqyar, a political activist who formerly worked in the Taliban regime as a director of the mining department, was wounded in Kabul on October 31.
Then, three hours after the attack on Muzhda, unidentified gunmen unsuccessfully targeted Abdul Shakoor Mutmaen, who headed the Olympic committee during the Taliban regime, TOLONews reported.
Many are calling Muzhda a martyr for free speech because he often provided alternative or “contrarian” political views, particularly by offering insight into the Taliban perspective.
