Sources Allege Taliban Justice Minister Dismissed Over 700 Employees, Engaged in Nepotism and Property Seizures

Sources in the Taliban Ministry of Justice claim that Abdul Hakim Sharaei, the minister, has dismissed more than 700 employees over the past four years on charges including poor performance, corruption, lack of loyalty to the Taliban, and ties to opponents. They say he recently fired another 70 staff members after confiscating their mobile phones and inspecting their social media accounts. Instead of experienced workers, sources allege he has hired Pashtun students from religious schools in Logar, Khost, and Maidan Wardak provinces who lack relevant expertise.

The sources accuse Sharaei of widespread nepotism, placing dozens of relatives including nephews, brothers-in-law, sons-in-law, and other kin in key and lucrative positions within the ministry. They claim he has misappropriated the ministry's budget, funneling millions of afghanis to himself and associates under the guise of perks. Additionally, a commission under his leadership to prevent land grabbing has been elevated to ministry status, effectively giving him control over two ministries for alleged extortion and bullying.

Further allegations include seizing dozens of jeribs of land in Deh Sabz district of Kabul, shops and markets in Khost from previous government officials, and over 60 residential houses in Darulaman, Kabul, which he rents out cheaply. Sources say he has used ministry green spaces for personal farming of wheat, sorghum, and saffron twice a year, and ministry resources to feed his livestock and heat his private cattle sheds with air conditioners sourced from Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hezb-e Islami office.

Non-Pashtun and religious/linguistic minority employees have reportedly faced intensified ethnic purges. Around 70 recently dismissed staff sent a protest letter to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in Kandahar, but received no response, according to the sources. They add that files of fired employees are withheld, preventing reemployment and exacerbating economic hardships, while service delivery to the public has suffered.