Accessibility links

Breaking News

Son Of Afghan Ex-Vice President Killed In Shoot-Out At Family Compound

Updated

Baqir Mohaqeq was killed in the gunfight.
Baqir Mohaqeq was killed in the gunfight.

Police in the Afghan capital say a son of Mohammad Mohaqeq, the ethnic Hazara leader and second deputy to Afghanistan's chief executive, has died after a gunfight broke out at the family home in Kabul on February 9.

Mohaqeq is a former anti-Taliban mujahedin commander, a lawmaker in the Afghan parliament, and a key official under Afghan unity government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

“Unfortunately, a clash broke out between Mohammad Mohaqeq’s sons at their house," Kabul police chief Sayed Mohammad Roshandil told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan. "His son Hussain fired on his little brother, Baqir Mohaqeq, killing Baqir and [contributing to violence in which] eight other members of the family -- including Hussain Mohaqeq -- were injured.”

The other eight people were reportedly being treated at a local hospital.

Police have launched an investigation, the official said.

Mohaqeq ran unsuccessfully for president in 2004 and once served on the Afghan peace council tasked with reconciliation efforts.

After a fallout with the government in Kabul over perceived leniency toward Taliban insurgents, Mohaqeq joined the ticket of Abdullah Abdullah in a fiercely disputed presidential election in 2014 that ushered in a power-sharing deal between Abdullah and the current president, Ashraf Ghani.

That U.S.-brokered agreement installed Abdullah as chief executive in what has been a strained five-year coexistence between Ghani and Abdullah under a "unity government."

Mohaqeq has served as Abdullah's deputy chief executive throughout the deal's existence.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG