Ghor governor Ghulam Nasir Khaze on Tuesday told TOLOnews in a phone call that a Daesh commander, who was arrested by security forces two months ago, has been released by the National Directorate of Security (NDS).

The governor said the Daesh commander is behind the killing of dozens of civilians in Ghor and the stoning of Rukhshana, a girl who was accused of adultery by a kangaroo court in the province last year.

At least two months ago, Abdulhai Khatibi, spokesman for Ghor governor, told reporters that the Daesh militant, Saadyar, visited Feroz Koh, the capital city of Ghor, when he was arrested by security forces.

The spokesman said at that time that Saadyar was the main perpetrator of Rukhshana’s stoning and was behind the killing of 32 civilians. He was also reportedly in charge of a Daesh kangaroo court in Ghalmin area in the province.

“Mawlawi Saadyar, a Daesh commander, had come to hospital for treatment and was arrested by security forces. Saadyar had issued the order of Rukhshana’s stoning and also he is accused of the group killing of Ghor people,” Khatibi told media after the arrest of the Daesh commander.

In another media clip recorded two months ago, General Mustafa Muhsini, Ghor police chief, said “we have arrested Mawlawi Saadyar. He had ordered the killing of a number of security force members. A number of Ghor people were killed on Saadyar’s orders”.

Ghor governor, Ghor police chief and other officials of the province refused to comment on the release of Saadyar, but the Ghor governor said in a phone call to TOLOnews that he had handed Saadyar over to the NDS and that they had freed him.

The NDS office in Ghor reportedly confirmed the move to journalists in Ghor but allegedly asked them not to broadcast the news.

Meanwhile, a number of activists and residents of Ghor criticized the move by the NDS.

“The release of Saadyar by Ghor local officials is a great injustice against soldiers killed in the province,” said Sultan Ahmad, head of Feroz Koh City Council.

“This deal between government and insurgents shows that government does not respect Afghan citizens’ sacrifices and blood. This move by government proves that the people who have been killed in defending the country, were killed for nothing,” said Hamidullah Refa, a civil society activist in the province.

However, head of Ghor Provincial Council, Fazlulhaq Ehsan, who reportedly signed an order for the release of Saadyar, said the Daesh commander was set free in coordination with security departments and the High Peace Council office in Ghor in order to encourage other insurgents to join the peace process.

“We welcome Mawlawi Saadyar’s release, because he promised to encourage the majority of his men to join the peace process. Security will improve in Ghor if the promise is fulfilled,” Ehsan said.