KABUL: A former lawmaker of Afghanistan, Mursal Nabizada, and one of her bodyguards were shot dead while her brother was wounded in a night-time attack at her home, police said on Sunday.

“Nabizada, along with one of her bodyguards, was shot dead at her house,” Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said.

“The security forces have started a serious investigation into the incident,” he said, adding that a brother of the ex-lawmaker was also wounded in the attack, which took place during the night between Saturday and Sunday.

Guard also dead, brother wounded in attack at her home; police start investigations

Nabizada was a “fearless champion for Afghanistan”, former lawmaker Mariam Solaimankhil said on Twitter. “A true trailblazer — strong, outspoken woman who stood for what she believed in, even in the face of danger,” she wrote.

“Despite being offered the chance to leave Afghanistan, she chose to stay and fight for her people,” she added.

The 32-year-old woman hailed from the eastern province of Nangarhar and had been elected as a member of parliament from Kabul in 2018.

“I am sad and angry and want the world to know!” tweeted Hannah Neu­mann, a member of the European parliament, in response to the killing.

“She was killed in darkness, but the Taliban build their system of gender apartheid in full daylight.”

Women had worked in prominent positions across Afghanistan in the two decades since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, with many becoming journalists and politicians.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2023