Abdul Sabour Sirat, a member of the Taliban’s intelligence apparatus, has reportedly been released after spending six months in prison over the murder of a tribal elder in Samangan province.
News sources reported that Sirat was among six Taliban members accused of involvement in the assassination of Akbar Niazi, a tribal elder in Samangan. Sirat had previously served as the deputy intelligence officer for the Taliban’s second district in Aibak, the provincial capital.
According to the reports, a Taliban military court sentenced Sirat to three years in prison in connection with Niazi’s murder. However, he was released after serving only six months of his sentence, without completing the full term imposed by the court.
The reported early release has raised questions over the Taliban’s handling of the case and the enforcement of sentences against its own members.
The Taliban had earlier released five other members of the group who were detained in connection with the killing of the Samangan tribal elder.
The reports did not provide details about the reasons behind Sirat’s early release or whether any new legal decision was issued to reduce or cancel his sentence. The case has drawn attention because of the alleged involvement of Taliban personnel in the killing and the subsequent release of all those detained in connection with the incident.