Informed sources have told media outlets that Abdul Hakim Sharaee, the Taliban’s Minister of Justice, has dismissed Jan Mohammad Talha, the head of the Ministry’s Defense Lawyers Directorate, on allegations of corruption in the administration of the licensing examination for defense attorneys. According to the sources, the exam questions were leaked to a number of candidates before the test was held.
The sources said that the Taliban Ministry of Justice’s Defense Lawyers Directorate conducted the licensing exam for applicants on May 8 of this year. They claim that the exam questions had been distributed to certain individuals before the examination took place.
Taliban officials have not yet commented publicly on Talha’s dismissal, and no further details have been released.
A number of defense lawyers allege that by providing exam questions to its own members, the Taliban is attempting to restrict the legal licensing process to individuals affiliated with the group. They describe this as a deliberate effort to give Taliban members priority in obtaining legal practice licenses.
Jan Mohammad Talha was appointed head of the Defense Lawyers Directorate about five months ago with the approval of Hasan Akhund and in the presence of Abdul Hakim Sharaee. Prior to this appointment, he served as head of the Legal Aid Directorate at the Taliban Ministry of Justice.
Reports of administrative and financial corruption within Taliban institutions have a long history. However, critics of the group say that the Taliban generally seeks to keep cases involving its own officials who face corruption allegations away from public attention.
Since returning to power, the Taliban has appointed a large number of its members and affiliates to government institutions. Critics argue that this practice has contributed to growing concerns about recruitment and appointment procedures within state agencies.
Previously, sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban’s Director of Public Health in Nangarhar Province had appointed 32 of his relatives and close associates to positions within the province’s health administration.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
